Figure 1.

Schematic summary of the potential mechanism of action for the hesperidin effect on endothelial function during exercise. (A) During exercise, the release of nitric oxide (NO) by endothelial cells causes the relaxation of the smooth muscle cells, which leads to the dilation of an artery and an increase in blood flow. (B) Hesperidin increases the endothelial cells’ NO production. This process leads to higher artery dilation, which further improves blood flow. During exercise, improved skeletal muscle perfusion and the consequent increase in oxygen (O₂) efflux to the muscle can improve endurance performance. The figure was created with BioRender.com. Abbreviations: HES = hesperidin; NO = nitric oxide; O₂ = oxygen; SKM = skeletal muscle; Increased: ↑ < ↑↑; Decreased ↓ < ↓↓.