Abstract:

Objective: The effect of malvidin chloride (Mv-Cl) extracted from blueberries on the amounts of reactive oxygen
species (ROS) and xanthine oxidase-1 (XO-1) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was investigated to
explore the antioxidant potential of the anthocyanin compound. Methods: HUVECs were in vitro cultured in the presence
of Mv-Cl (1, 5 and 10 μmol/L), angiotensinⅡ(Ang II, 10-2 μmol/L) and their combination, respectively. DMSO was used
as control. The ROS content in the cells was detected by immunofluorescence. The soluble XO-1 protein content in the cell
culture supernatant was detected by ELISA. The protein expression of XO-1 in the cells was assessed by Western blotting.
Results: The content of ROS and the protein expression of XO-1 in HUVECs were decreased when treated with low
concentration of Mv-Cl. Ang II significantly increased ROS and XO-1 content, and Mv-Cl appeared to specifically down-regulate
the production of ROS and XO-1. Conclusion: Malvidin chloride can prevent endothelial dysfunction by inhibiting ROS and XO-1.
Therefore, blueberry anthocyanin may be a new inhibitor of ROS and XO-1, which provides a theoretical basis for the application
of blueberry anthocyanins to prevent cardiovascular diseases as a functional food or nutraceutical ingredient.

Key words: blueberry, malvidin, human umbilical vein endothelial cells, reactive oxygen species, xanthine oxidase-1