Objectives: 

Red wine is a rich source of biologically active phytochemicals, chemicals found in plants. Particular compounds called polyphenols found in red wine are thought to have antioxidant and antihypertensive properties.We aimed to perform a chemical analysis of an alcohol free Alibernet red wine extract(AWE) and to investigate the effects of AWE on nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species production as well as blood pressure development in normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY)and spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR).

Materials: 

Total antioxidant capacity together with total phenolic and selected mineral content were measured in AWE. Furthermore, young 6-week-old male WKY and SHR were treated with AWE (24,2 mg/kg/day) for 3 weeks. Total NOS and SOD activities, eNOS and SOD1 protein expressions and superoxide production were determined in the tissues.

Results: 

Both antioxidant capacity and phenolic content were found to have a high level in AWE. From the minerals Zn, Mg, and Ca, especially, reached the most important levels. The AWE increased NOS activity in the left ventricle, aorta and kidney of SHR, while it did not change NOS activity in WKY rats. Similarly, increased SOD activity in the plasma and left ventricle was observed in SHR only. There, however, were no changes in eNOS and SOD1 expressions. Since both NOS and SOD1 activities are Zn-dependent, we assume this mineral may directly increase the activities.

Conclusions: 

In conclusion, our study documented that phenolics and minerals presented in AWE extract, and zinc especially, may contribute

directly to increased NOS and SOD activities in the tissues of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Nevertheless, 3 weeks of AWE treatment failed to affect blood pressure of SHR yet.