ABSTRACT
Cardiovascular disease (CVD), predominantly atherosclerotic lesions in the major arteries, is identied as a primary cause of mortality in the United States. Extensive investigations that are being conducted on various aspects of atherosclerosis in animal models and human subjects in clinics lead to inconclusive understanding of the cause of CVDs. More than 2200 Americans die of CVD every day with an average of one death occurring every 39 s. The CVD-related mortality in 2008 accounted for the 33% of the total deaths that occurred among individuals before they attained 75 years of age, which was earlier than the average life expectancy in the United States (Roger et al. 2012). Three major clinical manifestations of atherosclerotic CVDs are the coronary heart disease (CHD), cerebrovascular accident or ischemic stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. CHD is likely to arise from the accumulation of cholesterol in the arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle, which become hardened or narrowed (Carmeliet 2003). This type of the atherosclerotic condition is characteristic of the arterial wall thickening due to the accumulation of fatty materials in the arteries (Ross 1993). Atherosclerotic CVDs are caused due to the changes in the arteries of the heart, brain, and extremities. A complex interplay among several pathophysiological events including dyslipidemia, inammation, coagulation, brinolysis, and endothelial dysfunction is
21.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 401 21.2 Structure and Source of Resveratrol .....................................................................................402 21.3 Bioavailability of Resveratrol ...............................................................................................403 21.4 Cardiovascular Benets of Resveratrol ................................................................................404
