An Introduction To Resveratrol

What is Resveratrol? It’s a natural drug with the potential to fight three major types of disease currently ravaging the minds and bodies of modern man, namely cancer, Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease. Resveratrol is a type of plant antibiotic (phytoalexin) which is produced when plants are under attack from bacteria or fungi. It was first isolated from hellebore roots in 1940, but it wasn’t until 1992 that it was tied to the positive effects of cancer reduction and cardiovascular health commonly associated with red wine.

Resveratrol is naturally found in the skins of red grapes, a fact which has lead some scientists and wine lovers to believe that drinking wine may help fight cancer and increase overall health. Several studies support the theory that moderate consumption of wine cuts death rates by up to 40% per year. Whether this is purely due to the function of Resveratrol is in doubt however, as some scientists claim that drinking wine alone does not provide the human body with sufficient Resveratrol for there to be significant positive effect.

It should be noted that thus far, Resveratrol’s effects have been successfully tested only on rodents and cell cultures. In tests on rodents, Resveratrol has acted as an anti cancer agent, lowered blood sugar, increased cardiovascular function, removed brain plaque and lengthened overall life span due to the fact that its chemical structure activates what has been dubbed a ‘longevity’ gene.

Resveratrol’s chemical structure has a profound affect on genes. It can affect whether or not certain genes are switched on or off through a process called descetylation. In rodents it also inhibits the production of so called DNA debris (useless cellular material which is produced by multiple errors in cell replication) by up to 60%. This has a huge effect on the longevity of the test subject.

In humans, Resveratrol could potentially be a treatment for the following ailments:

  • Alzheimer’s
  • Cancer
  • Cardiovascular Disease
  • Spinal Cord Injuries

It could also have the following benefits:

  • Increased longevity
  • Enhanced athletic performance
  • Radiation exposure protection
  • Stroke damage protection

Alzheimer’s

Resveratrol is effective in cutting down on free radicals, which are a major cause of Alzheimer’s. Resveratrol has been shown to protect the brain from free radicals and oxidized fats which kill braincells, resulting in the decline of mental function associated with Alzheimer’s. Animals treated with Resveratrol were shown to have massively reduced brain plaque, which contributes to Alzheimer’s and other related diseases.

Cancer

Resveratrol has been shown to fight the following cancers in cell cultures and rodents:

  • Colon
  • Neuroblastoma
  • Esophageal
  • Breast (all types)
  • Prostate (all types)
  • Leukemia (various types)
  • Metastasis to bone
  • Skin
  • Pancreas
  • Ovarian
  • Melanoma
  • Liver
  • Lung
  • Stomach
  • Oral
  • Cervical
  • Lymphoma (various types)
  • Thyroid

Its ability to manipulate cell growth and to turn genes on and off is at the core of Resveratrol’s potential to fight cancer. Human tests have yet to find effective ways of using Resveratrol as a means to control the growth of tumors, though studies are ongoing.

Stroke Damage Prevention

Resveratrol has been shown to act as an anti inflammatory and also to protect against free radicals, both of which can be factors in a stroke. Additionally, the action of Resveratrol on the body’s enzymes affects how strokes affect the body. Mice who were dosed regularly with Resveratrol suffered less brain and motor damage after a stroke than those who were not treated with Resveratrol.

Additional Benefits

In addition to the benefits mentioned above, Resveratrol also has the effect of lowering blood sugar, as well as removing copper from the body.

Side Effects of Resveratrol

No significant negative side effects have been documented as yet, with the exception of the injection of massive doses of the drug into prepubescent mice, in which case it seemed to promote the growth of tumors. The lack of documented side effects should not be taken to indicate that Resveratrol is perfectly safe however, limited testing and the relative newness of the drug mean that long term effects have yet to be observed.

Resveratrol Supplements

Those seeking to tap into the benefits of this natural drug can either drink red wine which contains Resveratrol, or take manufactured supplements which contain much higher doses of Resveratrol.