Cardioprotection of red wine: Role of polyphenolic antioxidants

Epidemiological studies suggest that the consumption of wine, particularly of red wine, reduces the incidence of mortality and morbidity from coronary hear? disease. This has given rise to what is now popularly termed the "Fr ench paradox". The cardioprotective effect has been attributed to antioxida nts present in the polyphenol fraction of red wine. Grapes contain a variet y of antioxidants, including resveratrol, catechin, epicatechin and proanth ocyanidins. Of these resveratrol is present mainly in grape skin while proa nthocyanidin is present in the seeds. In this report, we provide evidence t hat red wine extract as well as resveratrol and proanthocyanidins are equal ly effective in reducing myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury which sugge sts that these red wine polyphenolic antioxidants play a crucial role in ca rdioprotection.