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Posted on Dec 25, 2008, 7 a.m.
By Rich Hurd
Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs), a group of antioxidant compounds found in many plants, can help to protect blood vessels from the ravages of aging, say researchers from Utrecht University in the Netherlands.
Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs), a group of antioxidant compounds found in many plants, can help to protect blood vessels from the ravages of aging, say researchers from Utrecht University in the Netherlands.
Researchers studied a proprietary blend of OPCs derived from Vitis vinifera (common grape vine) seeds which are rich in specific OPCs. Results showed that OPCs significantly delayed the onset of replicative aging in laboratory-grown, human endothelial cells obtained from umbilical cords. The ability of the OPCs to delay aging was associated with a drop in the levels of a marker of DNA damage, thus suggesting that the compounds exert their apparent anti-aging effects by protecting the DNA.
Lead author Dr Geetha Achanta, concluded “Smokers, hypertensives, and the elderly are especially at risk. The OPCs used in this study have been shown in our previous investigations to exhibit strong antioxidant activity. The findings from the current study suggest a novel biological activity for the product: delaying endothelial cell senescence. We are currently attempting to further elucidate the mechanisms by which the product delays endothelial cell senescence, which would provide a firm basis for testing its potential application in reducing risk of cardiovascular diseases.”
de Haan B, Achanta G, Post JA. A potential role for oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) in delaying senescence in human endothelial cells. Presented at the 15th Annual Meeting of the Society for Free Radical Biology and Medicine in Indianapolis, Indiana. November 19-23, 2008.
