Abstract
Grapes are a good source of flavonoids, which have been previously demonstrated to exert beneficial healthy effects on cardiovascular diseases. The aims of this study were to extensively characterise a grape seed procyanidin extract (GSPE) (total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity and HPLC–MS phenolic profile) and, to assess its antihypertensive effect in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) which is a model of genetically hypertensive rat analogue to the essential hypertension in humans. The hypotensive effect of GSPE was also proved in normotensive Wistar–Kyoto rats. Chromatographic analysis of the extract showed that the most abundant polyphenols are monomers and dimers, in their free forms and linked to a gallate. GSPE produced a significant decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure of SHR dose-dependently up to 375mg/kg (maximum decrease 6h post-administration) and did not affect blood pressure of Wistar–Kyoto rats. GSPE increased the activity of an antioxidant endogen system, but did not affect plasma ACE activity in these animals.
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