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Resveratrol

How It Works

Bottom Line: In laboratory studies, resveratrol was shown to reduce inflammation, but human data is lacking.

A naturally occurring compound in the skins of red grapes and other botanicals, resveratrol has been shown to reduce inflammation. It also has antioxidant properties and may help to protect against atherosclerosis (thickening of arterial walls) and heart disease. Animal studies have shown that resveratrol has the ability to prevent certain cancer cells from dividing. Researchers now believe that it may also play a role in increasing life span in yeast cells. However, it is not clear if similar effects will be seen in humans.

Purported Uses

  • Atherosclerosis
    Laboratory studies have shown that resveratrol helps in preventing atherosclerosis
  • Coronary heart disease
    There is limited scientific evidence to support this use
  • Cancer prevention
    Several laboratory studies have demonstrated the ability of resveratrol in preventing growth of cancer cells. However, it is not clear if similar effects will be seen in humans.
  • Inflammation
    This use is supported by data from laboratory studies.

  • Research Evidence

    Clinical trials have not been conducted so far to test the efficacy of resveratrol in humans.

    Do Not Take If

  • You are taking antiplatelet drugs (resveratrol may increase the risk of bleeding)
  • You are taking drugs that are metabolized by CYP450 (Cytochrome P450) enzymes (resveratrol inactivates some CYP450 enzymes which may lead to accumulation of such drugs in the body).

  • Side Effects

    Women who have estrogen receptor-positive cancers should not take resveratrol because it may cause certain cancer cells to multiply.

    Scientific Name

    3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene

    Common Name

    Resveratrols, Trans-3,5,4'trihydroxystilbene, 3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene

    Clinical Summary

    Resveratrol is a polyphenolic compound found in the skins of red grapes. It is also found in peanuts, mulberries, spruce, eucalyptus, and some Chinese herbs. Resveratrol has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as evidenced by its cardioprotective effects. It reduces the oxidation of low density lipoproteins (LDL) and inhibits aggregation of platelets and may offer protection against atherogenesis and coronary heart disease (1) (2).Several cell culture and animal studies have shown that resveratrol inhibits proliferation of cancer cells by apoptosis and by exerting antiestrogenic effects (3) (4) (5) (6). However, there is contradicting data from another study which showed that it acts as a phytoestrogen and could activate genes that are normally regulated by estrogen (7). According to other studies, resveratrol was found to inactivate some enzymes of the CYP450 family in tumor cells (8) (9). Recently, resveratrol has been implicated in enhancing longevity based on preliminary data from experiments done in yeast cells (10) (11). However, there is no data from clinical trials to verify these effects in humans. Women with hormone sensitive diseases, such as estrogen receptor-positive cancer should avoid resveratrol as it may stimulate the proliferation of certain tumor cells.

    Food Sources

  • Grape skin
  • Peanuts
  • Mulberries
  • Spruce
  • Eucalyptus
  • Polygonum cuspidatum or Japanase knowtweed

  • Purported uses

  • Atherosclerosis
  • Cancer prevention
  • Coronary heart disease
  • Inflammation

  • Mechanism of Action

    Resveratrol acts as an antioxidant and inhibits the oxidation of low density lipoproteins (LDL) (1), aggregation of platelets, and eicosanoid synthesis, thereby may help to protect against atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease (2). It also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent by inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX) activity (12) as well as the release of cytokines from macrophages in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (13). Laboratory studies have shown that resveratrol has estrogen-like properties and activates expression of genes that are regulated by estrogen (7). Other data from cell culture and animal experiments suggest that it plays a role in cancer chemoprevention during initiation, promotion, and progression of carcinogenesis (12) (14). In vivo studies have also demonstrated the inhibitory effects of resveratrol on the growth of oral squamous carcinoma cells (3), human promyelocytic leukemia cells (4), human breast cancer cells (5), and neuroblastoma cells (6) resulting from induction of apoptosis and antiestrogenic property. Resveratrol was also found to inhibit the enzymes CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and CYP1B1 in tumor cells. This may be one of the mechanisms by which resveratrol exerts anti-tumor effects as some of these enzymes are known to be involved in the activation of procarcinogens and toxins (8) (9). Preliminary data from recent experiments in yeast cells suggests that resveratrol may have a role in increasing life span which it does by activating a set of genes known as sirtuins (10) (11).

    Pharmacokinetics

    Upon oral administration, resveratrol is rapidly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and undergoes glucoronidation and sulfation in the liver microsomes. More than 50% of the ingested resveratrol is eliminated in urine in 24 hrs (15).

    Adverse Reactions

    As resveratrol exhibits estrogen-like properties and activates transcription by estrogen receptor that leads to stimulation of cancer cell proliferation, women with estrogen receptor-positive cancers should avoid resveratrol (7).

    Herb-Drug Interactions

  • Because resveratrol inhibits platelet aggregation, concurrent use of other antiplatelet drugs may increase the risk of bleeding.
  • Since resveratrol inactivates certain enzymes of the CYP450 family, the concentration of drugs that are metabolized by the same enzymes may increase in the body.

  • Literature Summary and Critique

    There is no data from clinical trials to support the beneficial effects of resveratrol in humans.

    References

    1. Fauconneau B, et al. Comparative study of radical scavenger and antioxidant properties of phenolic compounds from Vitis vinifera cell cultures using in vitro tests. Life Sci 1997; 61(21):2103-2110.
    2. Pace-Asciak CR, et al. The red wine phenolics trans-resveratrol and quercetin block human platelet aggregation and eicosanoid synthesis: implications for protection against coronary heart disease. Clin Chim Acta 1995; 235(2):207-219.
    3. ElAttar TM and Virji AS. Modulating effect of resveratrol and quercetin on oral cancer cell growth and proliferation. Anticancer Drugs 1999; 10(2):187-193.
    4. Surh YJ, et al. Resveratrol, an antioxidant present in red wine, induces apoptosis in human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells. Cancer Lett 1999; 140(1-2):1-10.
    5. Lu R and Serrero G. Resveratrol, a natural product derived from grape, exhibits antiestrogenic activity and inhibits the growth of human breast cancer cells. J Cell Physiol 1999; 179(3):297-304.
    6. Chen Y, et al. Resveratrol-induced cellular apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in neuroblastoma cells and antitumor effects on neuroblastoma in mice. Surgery 2004; 136(1):57-66.
    7. Gehm BD, et al. Resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound found in grapes and wine, is an agonist for the estrogen receptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1997; 94(25):14138-14143.
    8. Chen ZH, et al. Resveratrol inhibits TCDD-induced expression of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 and catechol estrogen-mediated oxidative DNA damage in cultured human mammary epithelial cells. Carcinogenesis 2004; 25(10):2005-2013.
    9. Liu J, et al. Differential regulation of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 expression in resveratrol-treated human medulloblastoma cells. Neurosci Lett 2004; 363(3):257-261.
    10. Howitz KT, et al. Small molecule activators of sirtuins extend Saccharomyces cerevisiae lifespan. Nature 2003; 425(6954):191-196.
    11. Hall SS. Longevity research. In vino vitalis? Compounds activate life-extending genes. Science 2003; 301(5637):1165.
    12. Jang M, et al. Cancer chemopreventive activity of resveratrol, a natural product derived from grapes. Science 1997; 275(5297):218-220.
    13. Culpitt SV, et al. Inhibition by red wine extract, resveratrol, of cytokine release by alveolar macrophages in COPD. Thorax 2003; 58(11):942-946.
    14. Aggarwal BB, et al. Role of resveratrol in prevention and therapy of cancer: preclinical and clinical studies. Anticancer Res 2004; 24(5A):2783-2840.
    15. Meng X, et al. Urinary and plasma levels of resveratrol and quercetin in humans, mice, and rats after ingestion of pure compounds and grape juice. J Agric Food Chem 2004; 52(4):935-942.

    Last Updated: Mar. 24, 2009
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