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1546052 
Journal Article 
Review 
Cardiovascular effects and molecular targets of resveratrol 
Li, H; Xia, N; Förstermann, U 
2012 
1 
Nitric Oxide
ISSN: 1089-8603
EISSN: 1089-8611 
26 
2 
102-110 
English 
22245452 
WOS:000301700000004 
Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is a polyphenol phytoalexin present in a variety of plant species and has been implicated to explain the health benefits of red wine. A wide range of health beneficial effects have been demonstrated for resveratrol in animal studies. In this review, we summarize the cardiovascular effects of resveratrol with emphasis on the molecular targets of the compound. In this regard, resveratrol stimulates endothelial production of nitric oxide, reduces oxidative stress, inhibits vascular inflammation and prevents platelet aggregation. In animal models of cardiovascular disease, resveratrol protects the heart from ischemia-reperfusion injury, reduces blood pressure and cardiac hypertrophy in hypertensive animals, and slows the progression of atherosclerosis. A number of direct and indirect target molecules mediating the aforementioned cardiovascular effects of resveratrol have been identified. These include, among others, the estrogen receptor α, the adenosine receptors, the cyclooxygenase 1, the histone/protein deacetylase sirtuin 1, the AMP-activated protein kinase, the Akt kinase, the nuclear factor-E2-related factor-2, and NF-κB. Molecular mechanisms involved in the signal cascades are discussed. 
Resveratrol; Cardiovascular disease; Nitric oxide; Oxidative stress; Vascular inflammation