Effect of flavonoids on the outcome of myocardial mitochondrial ischemia/reperfusion injury.

There is evidence that flavonoid intake correlates inversely with coronary heart disease risk. Flavonoids are widely distributed in food and drinks and act as antioxidants and iron chelators. The aim of this study was to determine whether pycnogenol (a flavonoid extracted from the bark of Pinus pinaster) and catechin could minimise the myocardial mitochondrial damage due to ischemia/reperfusion. Using the rat heart model of ischemia/reperfusion we found that pycnogenol had no significant effect on the resultant damage, while catechin suppressed the observed elevation of low molecular weight iron during ischemia/reperfusion which might explain the significantly reduced mitochondrial injury when using catechin in the perfusate. Our results suggest that some flavonoids might be effective in minimizing ischaemic/reperfusion injury and would require further detailed investigation.