Description
Resveratrol
 (3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene)is
a naturally occurring phytoalexin produced by some higher plants in
response to injury or fungal infection. Resveratrol is found in the skin of red grapes
and in other fruits. Resveratrol has also been produced by chemical
synthesis and by biotechnological synthesis (metabolic engineered
microorganisms) and is sold as a nutritional
supplement derived primarily from Japanese knotweed.
Activity
The effects of
resveratrol are currently a topic of numerous animal and human
studies. Its effects on the lifespan of many model organisms remain
controversial, with uncertain effects in fruit flies, nematode worms, and short-lived fish. In mouse and rat
experiments, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, blood sugar-lowering and
other beneficial cardiovascular
effects of resveratrol have been reported.
Life
extension
In ***6,
Italian scientists obtained the
first positive result of resveratrol supplementation in a
vertebrate. Using a short-lived
fish, Nothobranchius
furzeri, with a median life span of nine weeks, they
found a maximal dose of resveratrol increased the median lifespan
by *6%. Compared with the control fish at nine weeks, that is by
the end of control fish's life, the fish supplemented with
resveratrol showed significantly higher swimming activity and
better learning to avoid an unpleasant stimulus. The authors noted
a slight increase of mortality in young fish caused by resveratrol,
and hypothesized that its weak toxic action stimulated the defense
mechanisms and resulted in the life span extension.
Cancer
prevention
The strongest
evidence of anticancer action of resveratrol exists for tumors it
can contact directly, such as skin and gastrointestinal tract tumors. For other
cancers, the evidence is uncertain, even if massive doses of
resveratrol are used. Thus, resveratrol (1Â mg/kg orally)
reduced the number and size of the esophageal tumors in rats treated with a
carcinogen; and in several studies, small doses
(0.*2–8 mg/kg) of resveratrol, given prophylactically, reduced or prevented the
development of intestinal and colon tumors in rats given different
carcinogens. Cardioprotective
effects
Moderate drinking
of red wine has long been known to reduce the risk of heart
disease. This is best known as “the French paradoxâ€.
Studies suggest
resveratrol in red wine may play an important role in this
phenomenon. It achieves the effects by the following
functions:
(1) Inhibition of vascular cell
adhesion molecule expression;
(2) Inhibition of vascular smooth
muscle cell proliferation;
(3) Stimulation of endolethelial
nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) Activity;
(4) Inhibition of platelet
aggregation;
(5) Inhibition of LDL per
oxidation;
The
cardioprotective effects of resveratrol are also theorized to be a
form of preconditioning—the best method of cardioprotection,
rather than direct therapy.
Antidiabetic
effects
Studies have shown
resveratrol possesses hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects in both streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes rats
and STZ-nicotinamide-induced diabetes rats. Resveratrol ameliorates
common diabetes symptoms, such as polyphagia, polydipsia, and body weight loss.[*8] Other diabetic animal model studies by
different researchers have also demonstrated the antidiabetic
effects of resveratrol.[*2][*3][*9][*0][*1][*2][*3]
In human clinical
trials, resveratrol has lowered blood
sugar levels in both Phase Ib and Phase IIa, conducted by
Sirtris Pharmaceuticals,
Inc.
Other
applications
Neuroprotective
effects
Anti-inflammatory
effects
Effect on
testosterone levels
Adverse effects and
unknowns
Studies have found resveratrol
intake is inversely associated with breast cancer risk, and acts to
slow the progression of breast cancer that has been transplanted
into mice. Some studies suggest resveratrol slows the development
of blood vessels, which suppresses tumors, but also slows healing.
Citing the evidence that resveratrol is estrogen antagonistic, some retailers of
resveratrol advise that the compound may interfere with oral
contraceptives and that women who are pregnant or intending to
become pregnant should not use the product, while others advise
that resveratrol should not be taken by children or young adults
under *8, as no studies have shown how it affects their natural
development. A small study found a single dose of up to 5 g of
trans-resveratrol caused no serious adverse effects in healthy
volunteers.
Occurrences
In
plants
Resveratrol was originally isolated
by Takaoka from the roots of hellebore, In grape.
In
foods
Red wine contains
between 0.2 and 5.8Â mg/L, while white wine has much less,
muscadine grapes, peanuts Before
sprouting it was in the range of 2.3 to 4.5 μg/g, and after
sprouting in the range of *1.7 to *5.7 μg/g depending upon peanut
cultivar. Cocoa powder,
baking chocolate and dark chocolate also have low levels of
resveratrol in normal consumption quantities (0.*5 to
1.*5Â mg/kg).
where will be
Resveratrol use to ?
• Anti-cancer
• Effect on cardiovascular system
• Antibacterial and antifungal
• Nourish and protect liver
• Antioxidant and quench free-radicals
• Impact on the metabolism of osseous issue
