Resveratrol A Phytochemical With Health Benefits Found in Red Wine Chem 11 Spring 2008

Resveratrol is a stilbene Stilbene: Stilbene:

Resveratrol

Resveratrol

Health Benefits of Phytochemical s Antoxidant activity Antoxidant activity Cancer inhibition Cancer inhibition Cholestrol regulation Cholestrol regulation Anti-inflammatory activi ty Anti-inflammatory activi ty

What are Antioxidants? What are Antioxidants? –They are substances that slow or prevent the oxidation of other molecules, particularly by such oxidizing agents as free radicals. What are Free Radicals? What are Free Radicals? –They are molecular or atomic species with one or more unpaired electrons making it very reactive.

Free Radicals Where do they come from? Where do they come from? –Many are produced in the body from O 2 as part of normal metabolic activity. –Most of the O 2 is consumed in the electron chain transport, but some escapes this pathway.

Free Radical Formation 2O 2 + NADPH 2O NADP + + H + 2O H + dismutase H 2 O 2 + O 2 H 2 O 2 + O H + H 2 O + O 2 +  OH

Effects of Free Radicals Negative Effects Negative Effects –Aging –Cancer –Disruption of normal cell activities –Heart disease –Damage DNA Positive Effects Positive Effects –The body uses the most dangerous free radicals for use in the immune system and in inflammatory reactions.

Other Sources of Free Radicals Drugs Drugs Air Pollution Air Pollution Radiation, e.g. sunlight, TV and microwaves Radiation, e.g. sunlight, TV and microwaves

Free radicals A common Free Radical is  OH A common Free Radical is  OH This is created in body during normal metabolism in the ETC. This is created in body during normal metabolism in the ETC.

Free Radicals Attack Cellular Membranes Free radicals break the double bonds of lipids found in cellular membranes: Free radicals break the double bonds of lipids found in cellular membranes: -C=C- +  OH - C – C - -C=C- +  OH - C – C - OH

Antioxidants Mop Up Loose Free Radicals +  OH OH + H 2 O OO AntioxidantFree Radical

Antioxidant Capabilities of Resveratrol

Research Studies Of Resveratrol Studies are still in initial stages. Studies are still in initial stages. Anti-cancer, antiviral, neuroprotective, anti-aging and anti-inflammatory. Anti-cancer, antiviral, neuroprotective, anti-aging and anti-inflammatory. Anti-cancer – Resveratrol interfers with all three stages; it has anti-angiogenic properties Anti-cancer – Resveratrol interfers with all three stages; it has anti-angiogenic properties Anti-aging – enzyme SIR2 increases life span of yeast cell and Resveratrol increases its activity Anti-aging – enzyme SIR2 increases life span of yeast cell and Resveratrol increases its activity Drinking a glass of red wine a day may cut a man's risk of prostate cancer in half. Drinking a glass of red wine a day may cut a man's risk of prostate cancer in half.

Bottom Line There may not be enough Resveratrol in a glass of wine to yield clinical benefits, but it’s like chicken soup … A little bit won’t hurt you and it might do you some good.

Works cited National Cancer Institution. “Antioxidants and Cancer Prevention: Fact Sheet.” 2008 May 10.. National Cancer Institution. “Red Wine and Cancer Prevention: Fact Sheet.” 2008 May 10.. “New Insights into the Mechanism of Action of Antioxidants.” 2008 May 10 Sharma, H. M.D., C. Clark, M.D. An excerpt from the medical textbook Contemporary Ayurveda. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, May 10.. Silverthorn, Dee Unglaub. Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach. 4 th ed. San Francisco: Pearson Educaton Inc J Bauer, D Sinclair, “Therapeutic potential of Resvertrol: the in vivo evidence”, National Revue Drug Discovery, 2006, 5(6): 494 – 506 K Huwitz, D Sinclair, “Small molecule activatiors of sirtuins extend Saccharomyces cerevisiae lifespan”, Nature, 2003 Sep 11: – 6 Ming-Tsan Lin, Men-Luh Yen, Chia-Yi Lin, and Min-Liang Kuo, “Inhibition of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-Induced Angiogenesis by Resveratrol through Interruption of Src-Dependent Vascular Endothelial Cadherin Tyrosine Phosphorylation”, Mol Pharmacol 2003, 64: