Resveratrol is a polyphenol compound that may have health benefits
on various chronic diseases. [1] It exhibits a wide range of biological
effects, including antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory, anticancer,
antimutagenic and antifungal properties. [4] This compound is also
believed responsible for some of the beneficial effects of moderate red
wine drinking on the cardiovascular system. One liter of red wine
contains 1.5-3 mg of resveratrol. Resveratrol also exists in grapes.
Resveratrol is considered as a dietary phytoalexin. Phyto comes from
the word phyton which means a plant, while alexin means to defend.
Phytoalexin means plant antibiotic produced by a plant in response to
the entry of a disease-producing substance. [8]
RESEARCH FINDINGS
CANCER
Resveratrol has been shown to inhibit cancer initiation and promotion
[2] It acts as a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) and
regulates proteins involved in DNA synthesis and cell cycle.
Resveratrol also affects the activity of transcriptional factors involved
in proliferation and stress responses, such as NF-kB, AP1 and Egr1. [3]
Researchers from researchers at Cook
County Hospital found that gastric adenocarcinoma cells respond to
resveratrol treatment with suppression of DNA synthesis, activation of
nitric oxide synthase, induction of apoptosis and inhibition of total PKC
and PKC alpha activity. [6]
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
Resveratrol is a phytoestrogen, potent antioxidant, reactive oxygen
species scavenger and metal chelators. [4] Thus, it may have benefits
of protection of the cardiovascular system against ischemic-
reperfusion injury; it may also protect and maintain the intact
endothelium, exhibits antiatherosclerotic properties inhibits the LDL
oxidation, suppress the platelet aggregation and exhibits estrogen
like action. [4, 7]
PANCREATITIS
Because microcirculation occlusion and cytokines over-production is
involved in many diseases such as acute pancreatitis, resveratrol as a
platelet and cytokines inhibitor may have benefits on acute
pancreatitis. [5]
LIVER TRANSPLANT
Resveratrol has been shown to have an immuno-suppressive property
as well as protective effect on hepatocytes under allograft rejection in
a study of Wistar rats. [11]
KIDNEY DISEASES
Resveratrol (RSV) has been shown to reduce ischemia-reperfusion
(I/R) injury of rat kidney both by antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
mechanisms. [10]
SPERM PRODUCTION
In a study, researchers administered 20 mg/(kg . d) of trans-
resveratrol for 90 days. Compared to a control group, the diameter of
the seminiferous tubules was significantly reduced from 437.5 +/- 0.1
mum in the controls to 310.9 +/- 0.1 mum. This decrease was
accompanied by a significant increase in tubular density. Sperm counts
were significantly greater in the resveratrol-treated rats than in the
control group, but sperm quality did not differ. [9]
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Resveratrol is a potent antioxidant, oxidation may occur during the
manufacturing process or/and storage of the finished products. It has
long been thought that resveratrol supplements were not very
effective in comparison with wine. Recently, some manufacturers have
developed a technique to solve the stability issues of resveratrol
supplements during manufacturing and storage. [1]
Resveratrol has been used safely in studies at doses equivalent
to 500 mg./day. [1]
TOXICITY / SIDE EFFECTS
Researchers administered rats 0, 300, 1000, and 3000 mg trans-
resveratrol per kilogram body weight per day for 4 weeks. Most of the
adverse or side events occurred in the rats administered 3000 mg per
kilogram body weight per day. Signs of toxicity included reduced final
body weights and food consumption; elevated BUN, creatinine,
alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, and
albumin; reduced hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red cell counts; and
increased white cell counts. They also observed renal lesions. No
adverse or side effects were observed at 300 mg resveratrol per
kilogram body weight per day in rats.