DIFFERENTIAL-EFFECTS OF SMALL AND LARGE MOLECULAR-WEIGHT WINE PHYTOCHEMICALS ON ENDOTHELIAL-CELL EICOSANOID RELEASE

Yearly, thousands of plant extracts are screened for biochemical effec ts in vitro, often with little regard to the medium used or the presen ce of unabsorbable large molecular weight chemicals. Here, dealcoholiz ed red wine was separated by ultrafiltration, and each fraction was in vestigated for effects on endothelial cell eicosanoid release. Followi ng a 20 min incubation with cells, medium containing either 0.6% whole red wine or the large components of 0.6% red wine had more 6-ketopros taglandin F1-alpha and thromboxane B-2 than control medium. Sample med ium containing only the small components of 0.6% red wine had increase d 6-ketoprostaglandin F1-alpha. The small red wine components were mor e effective in plasma and in whole blood than in culture medium. There fore, we conclude that the potential for differential effects of mediu m type and small and large extract components should be considered in the design or interpretation of data from investigations into biologic al effects of plant extracts.