Mechanism Behind Heart-Healthy Red Wine Extract Revealed

Mechanism Behind Heart-Healthy Red Wine Extract Revealed

LA PLATA, Argentina--A possible mechanism ofaction behind the heart-protective effects of a non-alcoholic red wine extractwas elucidated by researchers from the Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Theiranimal research, published in the September issue of the Journal ofCardiovascular Pharmacology (40, 3:429-37, 2002)(www.cardiovascularpharm.com),demonstrated how red wine extract protected heart health after induced ischemia(obstruction of blood flow) and then forced reperfusion (resumed blood flow).Researchers compared the damage to rats' hearts with or without infusing redwine extract after a 20-minute ischemic episode followed by 30 minutes ofreperfusion. In the presence of red wine extract, the rats' hearts regainedcomplete systolic function. An examination of various measures of heart functionand overall health revealed that mitochondrial K(ATP) channels and nitric oxidewere involved in the protection against ischemia/reperfusion from anon-alcoholic red wine extract.