Red wine polyphenols prevent cardiovascular alterations in L-NAME-induced hypertension.

Objective: Red wine polyphenols have been reported to possess beneficial properties for preventing cardiovascular diseases but their effects on hemodynamic and functional cardiovascular changes during inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis have not been elucidated.

Design: The effects of the red wine polyphenols, Provinols, on arterial hypertension as well as left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, myocardial fibrosis and vascular remodeling were investigated in rats during chronic inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity. Rats were divided into four groups: a control group, a group treated with N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (40 mg/kg per day), a group receiving Provinols (40 mg/kg per day) alone or Provinols plus L-NAME.

Wine polyphenols improve cardiovascular remodeling and vascular function in NO-deficient hypertension.

The effects of the red wine polyphenolic compounds (Provinol) on hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, myocardial fibrosis, and vascular remodeling were investigated after chronic inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthase by administration of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) to rats. Rats were divided into four groups: a control group, a group treated for 4 wk with L-NAME (40 mg x kg(-1) x day(-1)), and two groups treated with L-NAME followed by 3 wk of either spontaneous recovery or recovery with Provinol treatment (40 mg x kg(-1) x day(-1)). Administration of Provinol produced a greater readiness of the decrease in blood pressure than that in the spontaneous recovery group.