Beneficial Effects of Pomegranate Fruit Consumption in Cardiovascular Diseases Prevention

: Cardiovascular diseases are some of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in developed or developing countries but in developed countries as well. Cardiac fibrosis is one of the most often pathological changes of heart tissues. It occurs as a result of extracellular matrix proteins accumulation at myocardia. Cardiac fibrosis results in impaired cardiac systolic and diastolic functions and is associated with other effects. Therapies with medicines have not been sufficiently successful in treating chronic diseases such as CVD. Therefore, the interest for therapeutic potential of natural compounds and medicinal plants has increased. Plants such as grapes, berries and peanuts contain a polyphenolic compound called "resveratrol" which has been reported to have various therapeutic properties for a variety of diseases. Studies on laboratory models that show that resveratrol has beneficial effects on cardiovascular diseases including myocardial infarction, high blood pressure cardiomyopathy, thrombosis, cardiac fibrosis, and atherosclerosis. In vitro animal models using resveratrol indicated protective effects on the heart by neutralizing reactive oxygen species, preventing inflammation, increasing neoangiogenesis, dilating blood vessels, suppressing apoptosis and delaying atherosclerosis. In this review, we are presenting experimental and clinical results of studies concerning resveratrol effects on cardiac fibrosis as a CVD outcome in humans.

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Potent Beneficial Effects of Vegetables and Fruits on Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular Diseases ◽

10.1201/b14663-27 ◽

2013 ◽

pp. 421-438 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Namasivayam Nalini ◽

Jesudoss Santiago

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Diseases ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Vegetables And Fruits

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Endothelium and Its Alterations in Cardiovascular Diseases: Life Style Intervention

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2014/801896 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-28 ◽

Cited By ~ 101

Author(s):

Gaia Favero ◽

Corrado Paganelli ◽

Barbara Buffoli ◽

Luigi Fabrizio Rodella ◽

Rita Rezzani

Keyword(s):

Endothelial Cell ◽

Cardiovascular Diseases ◽

Cell Activation ◽

Cell Function ◽

Leukocyte Adhesion ◽

Endothelial Cell Activation ◽

Endothelial Cell Function ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Life Style Intervention ◽

Endothelial Functions

The endothelium, which forms the inner cellular lining of blood vessels and lymphatics, is a highly metabolically active organ that is involved in many physiopathological processes, including the control of vasomotor tone, barrier function, leukocyte adhesion, and trafficking and inflammation. In this review, we summarized and described the following: (i) endothelial cell function in physiological conditions and (ii) endothelial cell activation and dysfunction in the main cardiovascular diseases (such as atherosclerosis, and hypertension) and to diabetes, cigarette smoking, and aging physiological process. Finally, we presented the currently available evidence that supports the beneficial effects of physical activity and various dietary compounds on endothelial functions.

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A new approach to the treatment of dyslipidemia

Medicina ◽

10.3390/medicina44050053 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 44 (5) ◽

pp. 407 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Sigita Kėvelaitienė ◽

Rimvydas Šlapikas

Keyword(s):

Coronary Heart Disease ◽

Heart Disease ◽

Cardiovascular Diseases ◽

High Risk ◽

Statin Therapy ◽

Cholesterol Absorption ◽

Diabetic Patients ◽

Intestinal Cholesterol Absorption ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

European Society Of Cardiology

During the last decade, the evidence of beneficial effects of cholesterol lowering in patients with coronary heart disease has been proven in many clinical trials. The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) released 2004 update to the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) guidelines. The new guidelines of European Society of Cardiology announced in 2007 support more intensive LDL-C lowering in patients at high risk of cardiovascular diseases. For patients at the highest risk of cardiovascular diseases (diabetic patients with coronary heart disease), the recommended LDL-C goal is <1.8 mmol/L. In very high-, high-, and moderately high-risk patients, statin therapy should be considered with a treatment targeting an LDL-C reduction of 30– 40%. Clinical studies have shown that statin therapy alone is not always effective, especially in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia. Furthermore, high doses of statins can increase the possibility of adverse events. The combination of statins with intestinal cholesterol absorption inhibitors is more effective than statin monotherapy in LDL-C lowering and is well tolerated.

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Phytochemical Compounds and Protection from Cardiovascular Diseases: A State of the Art

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2015/918069 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-17 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Beniamino Pagliaro ◽

Caterina Santolamazza ◽

Francesca Simonelli ◽

Speranza Rubattu

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Diseases ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Lifestyle Changes ◽

In Vivo Models ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Phytochemical Compounds ◽

Cardioprotective Effects ◽

Reference Tool

Cardiovascular diseases represent a worldwide relevant socioeconomical problem. Cardiovascular disease prevention relies also on lifestyle changes, including dietary habits. The cardioprotective effects of several foods and dietary supplements in both animal models and in humans have been explored. It was found that beneficial effects are mainly dependent on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, also involving modulation of mitochondrial function. Resveratrol is one of the most studied phytochemical compounds and it is provided with several benefits in cardiovascular diseases as well as in other pathological conditions (such as cancer). Other relevant compounds areBrassica oleracea, curcumin, and berberine, and they all exert beneficial effects in several diseases. In the attempt to provide a comprehensive reference tool for both researchers and clinicians, we summarized in the present paper the existing literature on both preclinical and clinical cardioprotective effects of each mentioned phytochemical. We structured the discussion of each compound by analyzing, first, its cellular molecular targets of action, subsequently focusing on results from applications in both ex vivo and in vivo models, finally discussing the relevance of the compound in the context of human diseases.

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Chinese Herbal Medicine on Dyslipidemia: Progress and Perspective

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2014/163036 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Ming Guo ◽

Yue Liu ◽

Zhu-Ye Gao ◽

Da-zhuo Shi

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Diseases ◽

Chinese Herb ◽

Term Treatment ◽

Lipid Lowering ◽

Favorable Effect ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Long Term Treatment ◽

Lipid Lowering Agents ◽

Hypolipidemic Drugs

Dyslipidemia is an independent risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. The statins are a milestone in the primary and second prevention of cardiovascular diseases and significantly improved its prognosis. Along with the long-term treatment with statins in combination with other hypolipidemic drugs or alone, its safety has attracted a particular attention in clinic, such as the elevation of transaminase and rhabdomyolysis, which have raised an idea of developing the other types of lipid-lowering agents from botanic materials. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used in clinical practice for more than 2000 years in China and showed some beneficial effects for human health and many diseases. Recently, many studies demonstrated a favorable effect of TCM for treating dyslipidemia; however, its mechanism remains unclear or totally unknown. The progress and perspective of studies on dyslipidemia with single Chinese herb and its monomers or effective extracts during the past 10 years are discussed in the present review.

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Lifelong prevention of cardiovascular disease. Part I: preconceptional, prenatal and infant periods of life

CARDIOVASCULAR THERAPY AND PREVENTION ◽

10.15829/1728-8800-2020-2647 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (6) ◽

pp. 2647

Author(s):

O. V. Kopylova ◽

A. I. Ershova ◽

A. N. Meshkov ◽

O. M. Drapkina

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Cardiovascular Diseases ◽

Preventive Measures ◽

Cumulative Effect ◽

Life Stages ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Cvd Prevention ◽

Prevention Of Cardiovascular Disease

Current prophylactic actions prevent or significantly delay the majority of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Various factors are interconnected and affect a person throughout his life, determining the risk of CVD. This indicates the need for preventive measures at all stages of life and even before birth. The beneficial effects of CVD prevention are realized through various genetic, epigenetic and metabolic mechanisms. Due to the fact that many risk factors for CVD have a cumulative effect, the introduction of preventive measures from the earliest life stages will be most effective. The purpose of the article is to consider various aspects of CVD prevention in the preconceptional, prenatal and infant periods.

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Effects and Mechanisms of Tea Regulating Blood Pressure: Evidences and Promises

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu11051115 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 1115 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Daxiang Li ◽

Ruru Wang ◽

Jinbao Huang ◽

Qingshuang Cai ◽

Chung S. Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Diseases ◽

Animal Studies ◽

Large Scale ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Vascular Inflammation ◽

Optimal Dose ◽

Smooth Muscle Contraction ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Underlying Mechanisms

Cardiovascular diseases have overtaken cancers as the number one cause of death. Hypertension is the most dangerous factor linked to deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases. Many researchers have reported that tea has anti-hypertensive effects in animals and humans. The aim of this review is to update the information on the anti-hypertensive effects of tea in human interventions and animal studies, and to summarize the underlying mechanisms, based on ex-vivo tissue and cell culture data. During recent years, an increasing number of human population studies have confirmed the beneficial effects of tea on hypertension. However, the optimal dose has not yet been established owing to differences in the extent of hypertension, and complicated social and genetic backgrounds of populations. Therefore, further large-scale investigations with longer terms of observation and tighter controls are needed to define optimal doses in subjects with varying degrees of hypertensive risk factors, and to determine differences in beneficial effects amongst diverse populations. Moreover, data from laboratory studies have shown that tea and its secondary metabolites have important roles in relaxing smooth muscle contraction, enhancing endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity, reducing vascular inflammation, inhibiting rennin activity, and anti-vascular oxidative stress. However, the exact molecular mechanisms of these activities remain to be elucidated.

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Protective Effects of Pomegranate in Endothelial Dysfunction

Current Pharmaceutical Design ◽

10.2174/1381612826666200406152147 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (30) ◽

pp. 3684-3699 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nathalie T.B. Delgado ◽

Wender N. Rouver ◽

Roger L. dos Santos

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Cardiovascular Diseases ◽

Endothelial Dysfunction ◽

Endothelial Function ◽

Common Factor ◽

Blood Lipid ◽

Punica Granatum ◽

Protective Effects ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Anti Inflammatory

Background: Punica granatum L. is an infructescence native of occidental Asia and Mediterranean Europe, popularly referred to as pomegranate. It has been used in ethnomedicine for several applications, including the treatment of obesity, inflammation, diabetes, and the regulation of blood lipid parameters. Thus, pomegranate has been linked to the treatment of cardiovascular diseases that have endothelial dysfunction as a common factor acting mainly against oxidative stress due to its high polyphenol content. Its biocomponents have antihypertensive, antiatherogenic, antihyperglycemic, and anti-inflammatory properties, which promote cardiovascular protection through the improvement of endothelial function. Methods: Different electronic databases were searched in a non-systematic way to uncover the literature of interest. Conclusion: This review article presents updated information on the role of pomegranate in the context of endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases. We have shown that pomegranate, or rather its components (e.g., tannins, flavonoids, phytoestrogens, anthocyanins, alkaloids, etc.), have beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, improving parameters such as oxidative stress and the enzymatic antioxidant system, reducing reactive oxygen species formation and acting in an anti-inflammatory way. Thus, this review may contribute to a better understanding of pomegranate's beneficial actions on endothelial function and possibly to the development of strategies associated with conventional treatments of cardiovascular diseases.

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Preventive and Prophylactic Mechanisms of Action of Pomegranate Bioactive Constituents

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2013/789764 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-18 ◽

Cited By ~ 67

Author(s):

Monica Viladomiu ◽

Raquel Hontecillas ◽

Pinyi Lu ◽

Josep Bassaganya-Riera

Keyword(s):

Intestinal Inflammation ◽

Inflammatory Diseases ◽

Mechanisms Of Action ◽

Punicic Acid ◽

Bioactive Components ◽

Bioactive Constituents ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Ancient Times ◽

Potential Interactions ◽

Pomegranate Fruit

Pomegranate fruit presents strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiobesity, and antitumoral properties, thus leading to an increased popularity as a functional food and nutraceutical source since ancient times. It can be divided into three parts: seeds, peel, and juice, all of which seem to have medicinal benefits. Several studies investigate its bioactive components as a means to associate them with a specific beneficial effect and develop future products and therapeutic applications. Many beneficial effects are related to the presence of ellagic acid, ellagitannins (including punicalagins), punicic acid and other fatty acids, flavonoids, anthocyanidins, anthocyanins, estrogenic flavonols, and flavones, which seem to be its most therapeutically beneficial components. However, the synergistic action of the pomegranate constituents appears to be superior when compared to individual constituents. Promising results have been obtained for the treatment of certain diseases including obesity, insulin resistance, intestinal inflammation, and cancer. Although moderate consumption of pomegranate does not result in adverse effects, future studies are needed to assess safety and potential interactions with drugs that may alter the bioavailability of bioactive constituents of pomegranate as well as drugs. The aim of this review is to summarize the health effects and mechanisms of action of pomegranate extracts in chronic inflammatory diseases.

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