1. Epidemiological studies have suggested that moderate consumption of natural dietary polyphenolic compounds might reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and also protect against cancer. The present study investigates the effects of delphinidin, an anthocyanin present in red wine, on bovine aortic endothelial cells apoptosis. 2. Based on flow cytometry, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling analysis and detection of mitochondrial cytochrome c release, we show that delphinidin (10(-2) g l(-1)) alone had no effect either on necrosis or on apoptosis, but it significantly reduced apoptosis elicited by actinomycin D (1 micro g ml(-1), 24 h) and 7beta-hydroxycholesterol (10 micro g ml(-1), 18 h). 3. The protective effect of delphinidin was abolished by inhibitors of nitric oxide-synthase (NOS) (L-NA, 100 micro M and SMT, 100 micro M), guanylyl cyclase (ODQ, 100 micro M) and MAP kinase (PD98059, 30 micro M). 4. Western blot analysis and protein detection by confocal microscopy demonstrate that the antiapoptotic effect of delphinidin was associated with an increased endothelial NOS expression mediated by a MAP kinase pathway. 5. Finally, delphinidin alone had no effect on cytosolic-free calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)), but normalized the changes in [Ca(2+)](i) produced by actinomycin D towards the control values, suggesting that the antiapoptotic effect of delphinidin is associated with the maintenance of [Ca(2+)](i) in the physiological range. 6. All of the observed effects of delphinidin may preserve endothelium integrity, the alteration of which lead to pathologies including cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, and is often associated with cancers. In conclusion, the protective effect of delphinidin against endothelial cell apoptosis contributes to understand the potential benefits of a consumption rich in polyphenols.