Anthocyanins in obesity-associated thrombogenesis: a review of the potential mechanism of action

Food Funct. 2016 May 18;7(5):2169-78. doi: 10.1039/c6fo00154h. Epub 2016 Apr 22.

Abstract

Platelet dysfunction, oxidative stress and dyslipidemia are important contributors to pro-thrombotic progression particularly in obese and hyper-cholesterolemic populations. Becoming an increasingly widespread endemic, obesity causes a dysfunction in the metabolic system by initiating endothelial dysfunction; increasing free radical production; lipid peroxidation; platelet hyperactivity and aggregation; thereby accelerating thrombogenesis. In the event of increased free radical generation under pro-thrombotic conditions, antioxidants act as scavengers in reducing physiological oxidative stress; free radical-mediated thrombosis and hemostatic function. Anthocyanin, a subclass of the polyphenol family flavonoids has been shown to exhibit anti-dyslipidemic and anti-thrombotic properties by virtue of its antioxidant activity. Current anti-platelet/coagulant therapeutics target specific receptor pathways to relieve the extent of dysfunction and plaque acceleration in pro-thrombotic individuals. Though effective, they have been associated with high bleeding risk and increased response variability. The following review focuses on the potential role of natural dietary anthocyanins in targeting simultaneous mechanistic pathways in alleviating platelet activation, dyslipidemia, and oxidative stress-associated thrombus acceleration in obese pro-thrombotic populations.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anthocyanins / chemistry
  • Anthocyanins / metabolism*
  • Anthocyanins / pharmacology*
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Atherosclerosis / drug therapy
  • Biological Availability
  • Blood Platelets / drug effects
  • Diet
  • Dyslipidemias / drug therapy
  • Flavonoids
  • Free Radicals
  • Hemorrhage
  • Hemostatics
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Lipid Peroxidation
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / drug effects
  • Obesity / drug therapy*
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Platelet Activation / drug effects
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
  • Polyphenols
  • Thrombosis / drug therapy*
  • Virtues

Substances

  • Anthocyanins
  • Antioxidants
  • Flavonoids
  • Free Radicals
  • Hemostatics
  • Lipoproteins, LDL
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
  • Polyphenols