Evaluation of the cardioprotective effect of soybean extract biotransformated by yeast in culture of human endothelial cells

• Grant number: 11/00333-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2011
• End date: October 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Medicines Analysis and Control
• Principal Investigator: Maria Regina Torqueti
• Grantee: Maria Regina Torqueti
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: Ribeirão Preto
• Associated researchers: Carolina Sales Vieira ; Maria José Vieira Fonseca

Abstract

Women in reproductive phase present lower incidence of cardiovascular diseases than men of the same age. This advantage disappears in the post-menopause, suggesting that female sexual hormones have a cardioprotector effect. One of the proposed mechanisms to explain this protection is the fact that estrogens promote the production of important vasoactive factors, for instance: nitric oxide and prostaglandin, potent vasodilators, and, as they inhibit the release of endothelin, a vasoconstrictor. The estrogenic action of the ovarian hormones is also remarkable because it delays the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, acting as a vasoprotector, inhibiting the expression of the adhesion molecules, VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and e-selectin, which are molecules that act in the adhesion, rolling, activation and transendothelial migration of leukocytes. The risks pointed out by the hormone therapy to fight the undesired effects of menopause have led science to search for alternative therapies. Provided with this purpose, we point out the cyto-estrogens, mainly those extracted from soy, as they present estrogenic action in vascular level, offering cardiac protection to women in post-menopause. In this project, we aim to evaluate a preparation of soy biotransformed by the fungus Aspergillus awamori, since this preparation has showed a potent antioxidant action. For this model, we chose endothelial cells of the human umbilical cord, in which we intend to quantify the anti-atherogenic and cardioprotector potential of this preparation in face of vasoactive factors of the endothelium, molecules of expression, as well as its antioxidant potential. (AU)