Apelin Receptor Signaling and Biased Agonism
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.
eNOS Activation and Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathways
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.
GPER Receptor and Endothelial Nitric Oxide Production
The authors report that the effects of (-)-epicatechin in endothelial cells involve GPER, adding a specific receptor-linked explanation for observed vascular signaling responses.
Preeclampsia, Arginase, and Endothelial Protection
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.
Postprandial Fat Oxidation and Epicatechin
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.
Flavanol Nutraceuticals and Nonalcoholic Liver Disease
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.
Perilipin Expression and Liver Fat Metabolism in NASH
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.
Endothelial Cell Aging Reversal and Vascular 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.
Exercise Capacity, Dark Chocolate, and Mitochondrial Efficiency
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 Signaling and Endothelial Response to (-)-Epicatechin
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.
White Fat Browning and Mitochondrial Biogenesis in Adipose Tissue
This study found that (-)-epicatechin promoted browning-related changes in adipocytes and white adipose tissue, with associated improvements in mitochondrial function and thermogenic markers.
Endothelial Cell Aging, Vascular Function, and Nitric Oxide
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.