Diosmin and its glycocalyx restorative and anti-inflammatory effects on injured blood vessels

Endothelium, a crucial homeostatic organ, regulates vascular permeability and tone. Under physiological conditions, endothelial stimulation induces vasodilator endothelial nitric oxide (eNO) release and prevents adhesion molecule accessibility and leukocyte adhesion and migration into vessel walls. Endothelium dysfunction is a principal event in cardiovascular disorders, including atherosclerosis. Hence, current therapies focus on endothelium repair to prevent downstream cardiovascular events. However, minimal attention is given to the restoration of mechanotransducer endothelial glycocalyx (GCX), a negatively charged heterogeneous polysaccharide, which covers and protects endothelial cells. Endothelial GCX shedding plays a role in endothelial dysfunction, increasing vascular permeability and decreasing vessel tone. Diosmin, a flavone glycoside of diosmetin, downregulates adhesive molecule expression, decreases inflammation and capillary permeability, and upregulates eNO expression. Due...