Efeito protetor do vinho ruby cabernet em um modelo de hipercolesterolemia em camundongos

Abstract

Cholesterol is an important lipid component of all cell membranes and the myelin sheath, playing an important role in synaptic integrity and neural activity. Cholesterol also acts as a substrate for the synthesis of bile acids in the liver and precursor of steroidal hormones. However, a link has been identified between elevated plasma cholesterol levels and the development of atherosclerotic lesions. Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of multifactorial origin, which affects the intimate layer of arteries of medium and large calibers. The formation of atherosclerotic plaques begins with aggression to the vascular endothelium due to several risk factors such as dyslipidemia, arterial hypertension or smoking. Grapes, wine and grape products contain large amounts of phenolic compounds that act as antioxidants. Consumption of these flavonoids is associated with reduced risk of coronary events, and moderate red wine intake inhibits platelet aggregation. Low-intensity lipoprotein receptor damage increases plasma LDL-C levels, resulting in deficiency in blood clearance of this lipoprotein. In view of this, the objective of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of Ruby Cabernet red wine (RCR) produced in the city of Itaqui-RS against dyslipidemia, oxidative stress and systemic inflammation in hypercholesterolemic mice. Wild type C57BJ6 mice (90 days old) with a deletion LDLr-/- mice that were treated with RCR wine (daily dose of 400 μL per gavage) for 90 days. After treatment with the RCR wine, the animals were euthanized and blood was collected for biochemical assays. The results of the 4 present study demonstrated that RCR wine has a significant antioxidant capacity as revealed by in vitro assays. In addition, RCR wine attenuated the following altered biochemical parameters in LDLR animals-/- increased levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein, oxidized low density lipoprotein and decreased levels of HDL in the blood. RCR wine also alleviated the oxidative stress in the blood of LDLr-/- animals, as revealed by the reduction of levels of malondialdehyde, carbonylated protein, reactive oxygen species and increased levels of glutathione. The LDLr-/- animals exhibited a marked increase in nuclear Kappa-B factor and inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α, and a reduction of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. RCR wine attenuated these changes in blood plasma. We conclude that RCR wine has an important antioxidant potential in vitro. In addition, RCR wine has lipid-lowering, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in LDLr-/- animals.