Resveratrol Overview

Considered to be one of the hottest new products on the market, we explain the facts behind Resveratrol and it's health benefits.

Resveratrol (trans-3,5,4'- trihydroxystilbene) is a compound found largely in the skins of red grapes. It is a component of Ko-jo-kon, an oriental medicine used to treat diseases of the blood vessels, heart and liver. Resveratrol found primarily in red wine and is a naturally occurring antioxidant. It is a natural phytoalexin produced by some higher plants in response to injury or fungal infection. Resveratrol in the grape is found in the roots, seeds & stalks but much higher concentrations are found in the skin of the grape, which protects it against fungal and micro-organism attacks.

Resveratrol is produced by plants as an antifungal chemical. In addition to grapes and wine, dietary sources of resveratrol include peanuts, berries of Vaccinium species, including blueberries, bilberries, and cranberries. Resveratrol is also found in significant amounts in the dried roots and stems of the plant Polygonium cuspidatum Sieb. Et Zucc., also known as the Japanese knotweed which is used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine as a circulatory tonic, among other things. It is mainly used in ayurvedic medicine as a cardio tonic.

Advantages & Benefits Of Resveratrol A number of beneficial health effects of resveratrol such as anti-cancer, antiviral, neuroprotective, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory and life-prolonging effects have been reported. Resveratrol seems to increase the potency of some antiretroviral drugs. Laboratory tests have clearly demonstrated that resveratrol may help prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer. Several studies also demonstrated that resveratrol is an effective antioxidant.

Anti-Aging As to resveratrol's anti-aging potential, it activates a cell's survival defense enzyme, which prolongs the time cells have to repair their broken DNA. Resveratrol works by binding to a class of proteins called sirtuins which regulate the repair of cells and dramatically boosts their efficiency. Studies have shown that it has an impressive anti-inflammatory action which has delayed the process of ageing and increased life span by up to 50%.

Cardiovascular Disease Resveratrol is already known for helping to prevent blood clots and reducing cholesterol, it is also shown by a study that this compound has direct effects on the heart cells. One of the serious complications of free radical damage is hardening and thickening of arteries. A “vicious cycle” of radicals, artery damage, and narrowing due to scar tissue that, in turn, promotes more free radical activity and more damage, has been described. Resveratrol suggested as treatments for its progressive process. Resveratrol’s antioxidant action helps stop free radical damage and opens the arteries by enhancing nitric oxide. Resveratrol also stops the proliferation of cells in blood vessels that narrow the arteries.

Anti-Cancer Properties Resveratrol is being studied to see how it affects the initiation, promotion, and progression of cancer. Resveratrol is the natural medicinal to have solid evidence behind it showing that it blocks or stops many stages of cancer. Resveratrol not only prevents cancer, it’s being proposed as an additional treatment. Resveratrol is a broad-spectrum agent that stops cancer in many diverse ways, from blocking estrogen and androgens to modulating genes. Latest information about it shows that resveratrol causes a unique type of cell death and kills cancer cells whether they do or do not have the tumor suppressor gene, p53. It also works whether cancer cells are estrogen receptor-positive or negative. Research shows it could prevent tumors developing by producing anti-cancer molecules within the cancer cells themselves.

The research on resveratrol is voluminous and still continuing. In addition to the benefits mentioned above, resveratrol has been tested for its ability to stop pain, stop the growth of the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers, protect immune cells, protect DNA, protect against skin cancer, and many other conditions. As pointed out earlier, recently resveratrol became the first-ever supplement known to activate a longevity gene.

Side Effects Of Resveratrol No side effects have been reported with the use of resveratrol when use as recommended. At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions with resveratrol.