Cardioprotective effect of resveratrol, a natural antioxidant derived fromgrapes

Background: The major objective of the present study was to examine the car dioprotective effect of resveratrol, an antioxidant presents in red wines, in the rat after ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion (I-R). Methods: The left main coronary artery was occluded for 30 or 5 min followed by a 30-min rep erfusion in anesthetized rats. Animals were preinfused with and without res veratrol before occlusion and the severity of ischemia- and I-R-induced arr hythmias and mortality were compared. Results: Resveratrol pretreatment had no effect on ischemia-induced arrhythmias nor on mortality. In contrast, a dramatic protective effects were observed against I-R-induced arrhythmias and mortality. Resveratrol pretreatment both reduced the incidence and dura tion of ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF). Dur ing the same period, resveratrol pretreatment also increased nitric oxide ( NO) and decreased lactate dehydrogenase levels in the carotid blood. Conclu sions: Resveratrol is a potent antiarrhythmic agent with cardioprotective p roperties in I-R rats. The cardioprotective effects of resveratrol in the I -R rats may be correlated with its antioxidant activity and upregulation of NO production. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.