Resveratrol: A Potential Anticancer Agent

Serendipity or not? The discovery of a structurally simple plant chemical known as "resveratrol" has led to the release of several thousands of articles documenting its amazing health benefits. Resveratrol is a dietary phytoalexin (phyton means plant and alexin means defend) which is a powerful antioxidant that has cancer preventive properties. It is a constituent of red wine which comes with the highest concentrations of resveratrol from the skin of grapes. It has been proven to interfere with all three (3) stages of carcinogenesis: (1) initiation, (2) promotion, and (3) progression. It is responsible for the famous "French Paradox" study which claims that large amounts of red wine consumed by people in France protected them from heart attack. Among the numerous studies attempting to identify the health benefits of red wine has led to the findings of resveratrol.

In November,2008, researchers at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York reported that dietary supplementation with resveratrol reduced paque formation in animal brains which is a component of Alzheimer ad other neurodegenerative diseases. Weill Cornell Cancer Center, New York further investigated the absorption and metabolism of resveratrol through crystallographic analysis as an integral part of their cancer chemopreventive discovery efforts.

Current studies on resveratrol exhibited anticancer actions on different body organs like breasts, skin, gastric, colon, esophagus, prostate, pancreas and blood (leukemia) where tumors exists. Resveratrol fights breast cancer by "inducing growth inhibition" in the expression of human breast cancer cells. The topical application of resveratrol before and after exposure to solar (UVB) radiation prevents skin cancer tumors on hairless mice. Also, resveratrol (1 mg/kg orally) reduced the number and size of the esophageal tumors in rats. Lung cancer risk is lowered an average of 2% for each glass of red wine consumed per month. Resveratrol also protects against cigarette smoke induced oxidative stress. Men who drink 4 to 7 glasses of red wine per week are less likely to have prostate cancer. Resveratrol kills the pancreatic tumor cells by disabling the cancer cell's "mitochondria" (aka powerhouse of the cell). A strong evidence of anticancer activity of resveratrol exists when they come in "direct" contact with gastrointestinal tract tumors. Grape seed (muscadine grapes) extract destroys leukemia cells. Although most of the above mentioned studies were conducted on animal models they are currently recruiting patients on some clinical trials to study the effects on melanoma (skin) and colon cancer.

Sources of resveratrol comes from both natural foods and dietary supplements. Despite the fact that resveratrol can be found in any wine it should be noted that red wine have more resveratrol than white wine. It is due to the fact that red wine is fermented with the skins longer than white wines. It then allows the red wine to absorb more resveratrol. On the other hand, the white wine is fermented after the skin has been removed. Generally, wines that have highest levels of resveratrol are muscadine wines (South East USA) and pinot noir (cultivated in California, Oregon, Washington State and New York State).By eating grapes,drinking grape juice (1.56 nmol/g) and drinking cranberry juice (1.07 nmol/g), one can get resveratrol without drinking alcohol. Other foods that contain some resveratrol includes peanuts (1 oz peanut equals 79.4 micrograms),cranberries,blueberries and bilberries.

Dietary supplements include pills or powders derived from: polygonum cuspidatum (aka Japanese knotweed), red wine, grape skins, and muscadine seeds. There are transdermal "patch" or liquid solutions such as Sorbitol or Tween 80. Micronized resveratrol is also available in pill or powder form which increases body absorption. Finally, when choosing a resveratrol product make sure it contains trans-resveratrol (active form) than cis-resveratrol.

For more information visit www.nypcancerprevention.org, www.frenchscout.com/polyphenols, www.clinicaltrials.gov

www.zhion.com/phytonutrients/Resveratrol_Cancers.html

On human cancer prevention:

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17306316,

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17548692

Alzheimer&Neuro.diseases:

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19041676

Antioxidant :

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11481234,

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed15621628,

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.ov/pubmed/10963727.

Breast Cancer:

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11014220,

www.ncb.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15785317,

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16356836

Lung Cancer:

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18162601

Sources of Resveratrol:

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10051967,

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11804508,

www.ncbi.nih.gov/pubmed/13129286,

www.pbrc.edu/Division_of_Education/pdf/PNS_resveratrol.pdf.

www.etd.lsu.edu/docs/avaiable/etd-01202006,

.dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2006.01.047.

www.lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/phytochemicals/resveratrol/

www.peanut-institute.org/kidsFFT.html.