Peer-Reviewed Papers
Explore published research on mitochondrial function, cellular energy, (-)-epicatechin, vascular biology, and related metabolic pathways. Browse by specialization below to quickly find the papers most relevant to your interests.
Featured Papers
Improving Cardiovascular Risk in Postmenopausal Women with (−)-Epicatechin
Nájera et al., 2024 · Journal of Clinical Medicine
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled proof-of-concept trial evaluating cardiovascular risk–related measures in postmenopausal women using an (−)-epicatechin–enriched cacao supplement.
Antifibrotic Effects of (−)-Epicatechin in High-Glucose–Stimulated Cardiac Fibroblasts
Garate-Carrillo et al., 2021 · Journal of Medicinal Food
Cell-based mechanistic study examining how (−)-epicatechin modulates profibrotic signaling under high-glucose conditions, focusing on GPER and TGF-β1/SMAD pathways.
Modulation of Chronic Renal Damage Markers by (−)-Epicatechin in a 5/6 Nephrectomy Model
Montes-Rivera et al., 2019 · Heliyon
Preclinical study in a progressive chronic kidney disease model assessing the effects of (−)-epicatechin on biomarkers associated with renal injury progression.
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(-)-Epicatechin Is a Biased Ligand of Apelin Receptor
Portilla-Martínez et al., 2022 · International Journal of Molecular Sciences
This paper identifies (-)-epicatechin as a biased ligand of the apelin receptor, supporting a receptor-mediated signaling mechanism that may help explain some of its vascular and metabolic effects.
(-)-epicatechin activation of endothelial cell endothelial nitric oxide synthase, nitric oxide, and related signaling pathways
Ramírez-Sánchez et al., 2010 · Hypertension
This study found that (-)-epicatechin activates endothelial nitric oxide synthase and increases nitric oxide signaling in endothelial cells, helping define a plausible endothelial mechanism for vascular benefit.
The effects of (−)-epicatechin on endothelial cells involve the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER)
Moreno-Ulloa et al., 2015 · Pharmacological Research
The authors report that the effects of (-)-epicatechin in endothelial cells involve GPER, adding a specific receptor-linked explanation for observed vascular signaling responses.
Influence of the AT(2) receptor on the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway and effects of (-)-epicatechin on HUVECs from women with preeclampsia
González-Garrido et al., 2013 · Journal of Human Hypertension
This study examined nitric oxide biology and arginase activity in plasma and endothelial cells from women with preeclampsia. It found altered L-arginine/NO signaling and showed that (-)-epicatechin reduced arginase and superoxide-related activity in HUVECs.
Acute effects of an oral supplement of (-)-epicatechin on postprandial fat and carbohydrate metabolism in normal and overweight subjects
Gutiérrez-Salmeán et al., 2014 · Food & Function
This human study assessed short-term metabolic effects of an oral (-)-epicatechin supplement after meals, reporting changes in postprandial fat and carbohydrate handling in normal and overweight participants.
Is it possible to treat nonalcoholic liver disease using a flavanol-based nutraceutical approach? Basic and clinical data
Hidalgo et al., 2022 · Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology
This article reviews and discusses basic and clinical evidence relevant to using a flavanol-based nutraceutical strategy for nonalcoholic liver disease, summarizing translational evidence rather than making a single-trial claim.
Effects of (−)-epicatechin on the time course of the expression of perilipins in a diet-induced model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
Hidalgo et al., 2020 · Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry
Using a diet-induced NASH model, this study tracked the time course of perilipin expression and assessed how (-)-epicatechin altered those lipid-droplet–related responses over time.
(−)-Epicatechin induced reversal of endothelial cell aging and improved vascular function: underlying mechanisms
Ramírez-Sánchez et al., 2018 · Food & Function
This paper reports that (-)-epicatechin reversed several features of endothelial cell aging and improved vascular function, while also exploring the mechanisms behind those changes.
Beneficial effects of dark chocolate on exercise capacity in sedentary subjects: underlying mechanisms. A double blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial†
Taub et al., 2016 · Food & Function
In sedentary adults, dark chocolate intake improved exercise-related performance measures, including work achieved and VO2 max trends, with mechanistic data pointing toward mitochondrial efficiency and upstream signaling changes.
Cell membrane mediated (−)-epicatechin effects on upstream endothelial cell signaling: Evidence for a surface receptor
Moreno-Ulloa et al., 2014 · Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters
This paper provides evidence that (-)-epicatechin can trigger endothelial signaling through a cell-surface receptor mechanism, supporting membrane-initiated signaling rather than only intracellular antioxidant activity.
Browning effects of (-)-epicatechin on adipocytes and white adipose tissue
Varela et al., 2017 · European Journal of Pharmacology
This study found that (-)-epicatechin promoted browning-related changes in adipocytes and white adipose tissue, with associated improvements in mitochondrial function and thermogenic markers.
Arginase inhibition by (−)-Epicatechin reverses endothelial cell aging
Garate-Carrillo et al., 2020 · European Journal of Pharmacology
This study identifies arginase inhibition as a key mechanism by which (-)-epicatechin reverses endothelial cell aging, tying vascular anti-aging effects to a defined enzymatic pathway.