FIG. 39.

Graphical summary of some of the mechanisms involved in cardiovascular protection exerted by (poly)phenol metabolites. Protocatechuic acid (3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid) impairs monocyte adhesion by inhibiting the nuclear content of p65, a subunit of NF-κB, and thus decreasing ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression. Moreover, equol induces eNOS expression by increasing NO production. eNOS, endothelial nitric oxide synthase; ICAM-1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1; LFA-1, lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1; NF-κB, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain enhancer of activated B cells; NO, nitric oxide; PCA, protocatechuic acid; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α; TNFR, TNF-α receptor. (To see this illustration in color the reader is referred to the web version of this article at www.liebertpub.com/ars.)