Mitophagy and mitochondrial integrity in cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), one of the oldest known edible fruits, is nowadays broadly consumed throughout the world. Its fruits and seeds as well as other anatomical compartments (e.g., flowers and leaves) are rich in numerous bioactive compounds and therefore, the scientific interest in this plant has been constantly growing in recent years. It has been shown that pomegranate and its extracts exhibit potent antioxidative, antimicrobial, and anticarcinogenic properties. The present review summarizes some recent studies on pomegranate, highlighting mainly its vasculoprotective role attributed to the presence of hydrolyzable tannins ellagitannins and ellagic acid, as well as other compounds (e.g., anthocyanins and flavonoids). These in vitro and in vivo studies showed that substances derived from pomegranate reduce oxidative stress and platelet aggregation, diminish lipid uptake by macrophages, positively influence endothelial cell function, and are involved in blood pressure regulation. Clinical studies demonstrated that daily intake of pomegranate juice lessens hypertension and attenuates atherosclerosis in humans. Altogether, the reviewed studies point out the potential benefits of a broader use of pomegranate and its constituents as dietary supplements or as adjuvants in therapy of vascular diseases, such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, and peripheral artery disease.

Vasculoprotective Effects of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.).

Impact of the Natural Compound Urolithin A on Health, Disease, and Aging

Hesperidin belongs to flavanones class of flavonoids and is known to possess broad-spectrum applicability to prevent dreadful diseases such as cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, and cancer....

Ya Zhang

Papers

Urolithin A alleviates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury via PI3K/Akt pathway.

Liraglutide relieves myocardial damage by promoting autophagy via AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway in zucker diabetic fatty rat.

Hesperetin post-treatment prevents rat cardiomyocytes from hypoxia/reoxygenation injury in vitro via activating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway