Direct effects of (-)-epicatechin and procyanidin B2 on the respiration of rat heart mitochondria

Biomed Res Int. 2015:2015:232836. doi: 10.1155/2015/232836. Epub 2015 Feb 24.

Abstract

Flavonol (-)-epicatechin and its derived dimer procyanidin B2, present in high amounts in cocoa products, have been shown to exert beneficial effects on the heart and cardiovascular system; however, their mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated. We studied effects of (-)-epicatechin and procyanidin B2 on the oxidative phosphorylation of isolated rat heart mitochondria. (-)-Epicatechin and procyanidin B2 had stimulating effect (up to 30% compared to control) on substrate-driven (State 2) mitochondrial respiration. Their effect was dependent on the respiratory substrates used. (-)-Epicatechin at higher concentrations (from 0.27 µg/mL) significantly decreased (up to 15%) substrate- and ADP-driven (State 3) mitochondrial respiration in case of pyruvate and malate oxidation only. Procyanidin B2 (0.7-17.9 ng/mL) inhibited State 3 respiration rate up to 19%, the most profound effect being expressed with succinate as the substrate. (-)-Epicatechin at concentrations of 0.23 µg/mL and 0.46 µg/mL prevented loss of the cytochrome c from mitochondria when substrate was succinate, supporting the evidence of membrane stabilizing properties of this flavonol. Thus, both (-)-epicatechin and procyanidin B2 directly influenced mitochondrial functions and the observed effects could help to explain cardiometabolic risk reduction ascribed to the consumption of modest amounts of cocoa products.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Diphosphate / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Biflavonoids / chemistry
  • Biflavonoids / pharmacology*
  • Catechin / chemistry
  • Catechin / pharmacology*
  • Cell Respiration / drug effects
  • Cytochromes c / metabolism
  • Mitochondria, Heart / drug effects
  • Mitochondria, Heart / metabolism*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Proanthocyanidins / chemistry
  • Proanthocyanidins / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Substrate Specificity / drug effects
  • Succinates / metabolism

Substances

  • Biflavonoids
  • Proanthocyanidins
  • Succinates
  • procyanidin B2
  • Adenosine Diphosphate
  • Catechin
  • Cytochromes c