Anti-atherosclerotic effects of fruit bioactive compounds: A review of current scientific evidence

Abstract

Thilakarathna, S. H. and Rupasinghe, H. P. V. 2012. Anti-atherosclerotic effects of fruit bioactive compounds: A review of current scientific evidence. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 407–419. Atherosclerosis is a condition which leads to a cascade of processes involved in thickening of arterial walls as a result of fatty deposition, which can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Among numerous remedies, the consumption of fruits is believed to have beneficial effects on atherosclerosis development. Various bioactive compounds are present in fruits and they have been found to be responsible for exerting these beneficial effects. Fruit flavonoids and certain terpenoids are among the most efficacious fruit bioactive compounds that have shown positive effects on different in vitro as well as in vivo research models of atherosclerosis. The mechanisms of actions of these compounds vary from exerting antioxidant activities to anti-atherogenic and lipid lowering activities, based on different experimental models. This review article briefly explains how some of the fruit bioactive compounds have affected atherosclerosis under experimental conditions.