Antioxidant properties cardiovascular disease

Vitamin E can also act as an antioxidant (qv) in animals and humans alone or in combination with vitamin C (qv). Both are good free-radical scavengers with the vitamin C acting to preserve the levels of vitamin E (35). Vitamin E in turn can preserve the levels of vitamin A in animals (13). It has been shown that vitamin E reduces the incidence of cardiovascular disease (36—39). This most likely results from the antioxidant property of the vitamin which inhibits the oxidation of low density Hpoproteins (LDLs) (40—42). The formation of the oxidized LDLs is considered important in decreasing the incidence of cardiovascular disease (43). 

In the pharmaceutical industry, GA is used in pharmaceutical preparations and as a carrier of drugs since it is considered a physiologically harmless substance. Additionally, recent studies have highlighted GA antioxidant properties (Trommer Neubert, 2005 Ali Al Moundhri, 2006 Hinson et al., 2004), its role in the metabolism of lipids (Tiss et al., 2001, Evans et al., 1992), its positive results when being used in treatments for several degenerative diseases such as kidney failure (Matsumoto et al., 2006 Bliss et al., 1996 Ali et al., 2008), cardiovascular (Glover et al., 2009) and gastrointestinal (Wapnir et al., 2008 Rehman et al, 2003). 

Many flavonoids have antioxidant properties and as such are thought to protect humans against cardiovascular disease and cancer. Foods containing flavonoids (e.g., green tea, soy, and red wine) are touted as beneficial for health. 

Vitamin E in the diet is known to provide valuable antioxidant properties for humans, preventing the destruction of cellular materials, e.g. unsaturated fatty acids in biological membranes, and also helping to prevent heart disease. Other materials are similarly known to have beneficial antioxidant properties, and we are encouraged to incorporate sufficient levels of antioxidant-rich foods into our diets to minimize the risks of cardiovascular disease, cell degradation, and cancer. 

The role of the antioxidant properties of vitamins C, E, and p-carotene in the prevention of cardiovascular disease has been the focus of several recent studies. Antioxidants reduce the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins, which may play a role in the prevention of atherosclerosis. However, an inverse relationship between the intake or plasma levels of these vitamins and the incidence of coronary heart disease has been found in only a few epidemiological studies. One study showed that antioxidants lowered the level of high-density lipoprotein 2 and interfered with the effects of lipid-altering therapies given at the same time. While many groups recommend a varied diet rich in fruits and vegetables for the prevention of coronary artery disease, empirical data do not exist to recommend antioxidant supplementation for the prevention of coronary disease. 

Phenolic compounds also have important antioxidant properties, protecting food from oxidation [9]. The antioxidant properties of phenolic compounds can have an impact on human health and they are regarded as having a protective effect against low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and cardiovascular diseases [3], Recently phenolic compounds have been widely used in cosmetic preparations to delay aging [10]. 

Trans-resveratrol (trans-3,5,4 -trihydroxystilbene) is a non-flavonoid polyphenol found in grapes, mulberries, and other food prod-ucts. It is responsible for the antioxidant activity of red wine. Intake of moderate amount of red wine has been found to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. In addition to antioxidant activity, resveratrol could inhibit platelet aggregation, and showed anticancer activity. The phenoxyl radicals of resveratrol produced during oxidation by hydroxyl radicals, one-electron oxidants, and peroxyl radicals showed absorption maximum at 410 nm (Fig. I). Reports indicate that trans-resveratrol is a better radical scavenger than vitamins E and C and its activity is similar to that of the flavonoids epicatechin and quercetin. From the comparison of the spectral and kinetic properties of the transients derived from trans-resveratrol and its analogues, it could be concluded that in the neutral and acidic solutions, the para-hydroxy... 

Free radicals are highly reactive molecules that have been implicated in cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disease. Hunt et al. generated superoxide radicals in both cell-free and human placental tissue to determine if St. John s wort has antioxidant qualities. They then tested St. John s wort samples that were standardized to either hypericin or hyperforin. In cell-free studies, both samples had a prooxidant effect at a 1 1 concentration. Both showed an inverse dose-related relationship in their antioxidant effect at concentrations from 1 2.5 to 1 20, with 1 20 having the greatest antioxidant effect in both groups. St. John s wort standardized to hypericin was superior in its antioxidant properties compared with hyperforin. Both were shown to be significant... 

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