Department of Functional Sciences-Pathophysiology, Center for Translational Research and Systems Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300173 Timisoara, Romania
Corina Flangea
Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry-Pharmacology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Daliborca C. Vlad
Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry-Pharmacology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Cristina Gug
Department of Microscopic Morphology-Genetics, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Costin Mozos
Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300042 Timisoara, Romania
Dana Stoian
2nd Department of Internal Medicine-Endocrinology, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300723 Timisoara, Romania
Constantin T. Luca
Department of Cardiology–Cardiology II, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300310 Timisoara, Romania
Jarosław O. Horbańczuk
Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland
Olaf K. Horbańczuk
Faculty of Human Nutrition, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159 C, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
Atanas G. Atanasov
Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland
Cardiovascular disorders are leading mortality causes worldwide, often with a latent evolution. Vascular health depends on endothelial function, arterial stiffness, and the presence of atherosclerotic plaques. Preventive medicine deserves special attention, focusing on modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, including diet. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables has well-known health benefits, especially due to its polyphenolic components. Anthocyanins, water-soluble flavonoid species, responsible for the red-blue color in plants and commonly found in berries, exert favorable effects on the endothelial function, oxidative stress, inhibit COX-1, and COX-2 enzymes, exert antiatherogenic, antihypertensive, antiglycation, antithrombotic, and anti-inflammatory activity, ameliorate dyslipidemia and arterial stiffness. The present review aims to give a current overview of the mechanisms involved in the vascular protective effect of anthocyanins from the human diet, considering epidemiological data, in vitro and in vivo preclinical research, clinical observational, retrospective, intervention and randomized studies, dietary and biomarker studies, and discussing preventive benefits of anthocyanins and future research directions.