Cardiovascular mechanisms of action of anthocyanins may be associated with the impact of microbial metabolites on heme oxygenase-1 in vascular smooth muscle cells

Emily F. Warner, Ildefonso Rodriguez-Ramiro, Maria A. O'Connell, Colin D. Kay

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)
27 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Anthocyanins are reported to have cardio-protective effects, although their mechanisms of action remain elusive. We aimed to explore the effects of microbial metabolites common to anthocyanins and other flavonoids on vascular smooth muscle heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression. Thirteen phenolic metabolites identified by previous anthocyanin human feeding studies, as well as 28 unique mixtures of metabolites and their known precursor structures were explored for their activity on HO-1 protein expression in rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs). No phenolic metabolites were active when treated in isolation; however, five mixtures of phenolic metabolites significantly increased HO-1 protein expression (127.4-116.6%, p ≤ 0.03). The present study demonstrates that phenolic metabolites of anthocyanins differentially affect HO-1 activity, often having additive, synergistic or nullifying effects.

Original languageEnglish
Article number898
JournalMolecules
Volume23
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 13 Apr 2018

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