The red wine antioxidant resveratrol protects isolated rat hearts from ischemia reperfusion injury

The consumption of red wine has been reported to impart a greater benefit i n the prevention of coronary heart disease than the consumption of other al coholic beverages. This beneficial effect is increasingly being attributed to certain antioxidants comprising the polyphenol fraction of red wine such as transresveratrol. In the present study, we investigated the potential c ardioprotective effects of resveratrol in the face of ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury. Isolated perfused working rat hearts after stabilization were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit Bicarbonate buffer (KHB) either in the prese nce or absence of transresveratrol (RVT) at a concentration of 10 mu M for 15 min prior to subjecting them to 30 min of global ischemia followed by 2 h of reperfusion. Left ventricular functions were monitored at various time points throughout the reperfusion period to assess the extent of postischem ic recovery in comparison with baseline values. Coronary perfusate samples were also collected to determine malonaldehyde (MDA) levels. The results de monstrated that RVT exhibited significant myocardial protection. This was e videnced by improved recovery of post-ischemic ventricular function includi ng developed pressure and aortic flow as compared to the control group (KHB ). Values for developed pressure in the RVT-treated group were significantl y higher than those in the control group throughout the reperfusion period (71.09 +/- 4.88 mmHg vs. 58.47 +/- 3.88 mmHg, 68.87 +/- 5.07 mmHg vs. 49.74 +/- 2.65 mmHg and 51.67 +/- 3.95 mmHg vs. 30.50 +/- 4.80 mmHg at reperfusi on timepoints R-15, R-60, and R-120, respectively). From R-30 onwards, aort ic flow was markedly higher in the RVT treated group as compared with the c ontrol group, the differences being most significant at R-90 (32.45 +/- 2.1 9 ml/min vs. 19.83 +/- 1.62 ml/min) and R-120 (27.15 +/- 2.27 ml/min vs. 14 .10 +/- 1.69 ml/min). In contrast to the KHB treated group, the RVT-treated group displayed significant reduction in MDA formation especially in the i mmediate early reperfusion period (63.71 +/- 8.19 pM/ml vs. 130.86 +/- 4.76 pM/ml, 63.84 +/- 15.62 pM/ml vs. 156.99 +/- 18.93 pM/ml, 71.29 +/- 2.80 pM /ml vs. 129.5 +/- 10.30 pM/ml and 56.25 +/- 5.79 pM/ml vs. 127.99 +/- 3.50 pM/ml at timepoints R-1, R-3, R-5, and R-7, respectively) indicating a redu ction in I/R injury related oxidative stress. Infarct size was markedly red uced in the RVT group when compared with the control group (10.57 +/- 0.35% vs. 36.27 +/- 5.28%). In vitro studies revealed RVT to be a potent scaveng er of peroxyl radicals suggestive of a probable mechanism involved in the p rotective ability of RVT. The results of this study indicate that resveratr ol possesses cardioprotective effects which may be attributed to its peroxy l radical scavenging activity. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.