Effects of Resveratrol

The grape seed extract entered the field of sight of physicians in the early 1990s, when the world started talking about the so-called "French paradox". Scientist- cardiologists John D. Folts and Khizer Demrou from the medical university at the State of Wisconsin, focused attention on interesting statistics, published in the international medical journal "Lancet". They were interested in the fact that in France, where the population prefers to products with high fat content, the level of cardiovascular diseases is considerably lower than in other developed countries. But high use of fats leads to the diseases of heart and vessels. However, it is known that the Frenchmen have one additional gastronomical predilection - red wine.

As a result of numerous studies it was established that precisely red wine has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system of man, but the mechanism of this action was not studied to the end. As it happens, polyphenols (flavanoids) that are contained in red wine considerably decrease the probability of forming clots. In white wines and the other strong alcoholic beverages, there are almost no flavonoids. They are mostly contained in the skin, the pulp and the bones of grapes and are not destroyed with the production of red wine, as they are in white whines and other alcoholic beverages.

The red dry wine (precisely wine, but not grapeseeds), as it was considered earlier) contains the most powerful antioxidants and other useful substances. The greatest attention of scientists drew the substance from the class of so-called –Phytoalexin-Resveratrol. The chemical formula of Resveratrol is trans-3,4',5-Trihydroxystilbene. Resveratrol is manufactured in the skin of grape clusters in response to extreme factors, such as low temperatures or powerful ultraviolet action, and also for the opposition to different infections, including fungus. Thus Resveratrol, figuratively speaking, is reliable a guard and defender of grapes. With the regular use of red wine, with the high content of Resveratrol, as it has been noticed before, many illnesses may disappear.

Wine makers now use a new index of quality for wine, based on the level of the content of Resveratrol. For the usual red wine this index composes of 3 - 4 micro-moles (mkm). Wines with the content of Resveratrol above 5 m are evaluated as good, above 7 m - as very good, and over 10 - as extraordinary. Good indices on the concentration of Resveratrol show such types as "Cabernet franc" and "Lemberger", very good - "Cabernet Sauvignon" and "Bozhole" and finally excellent - "Pinot nuar" and "Merlot". The content of Resveratrol in the red wine depends on the territory where the wine was produced, the type of grapes, agro-technology and the technology of wine making. In the young and very old wines, quantity of Resveratrol is small. It should be noted that the grapes reared from northern parts and those that undergo higher action of moisture will have a higher concentration of Resveratrol. French wines of the regions with the colder climate contain more Resveratrol than wines from California.

However, one must take into account that yr for harvest differs year to year, and even the competition forces producers to change types and technology. Since wine-grapes manufacture Resveratrol as protection from diseases, wine producers desire to raise them as advantageous from the point of view of marketing Resveratrol content in the berries, and can force them to reject the application of pesticides, which place plants in the "hot-house" conditions. Resveratrol is also contained in white wines, but there its concentration is into dozens of times lower.  Other important components contained in the wine are wine flavonoids quercetin and rutin. Quercetin, as scientists assume, prevents the coagulation of blood cells and the development of atherosclerosis. Rutin is used for treating the varicose expansion of veins and prophylaxis of atherosclerosis. In the red wine are also contained the tannin and other phenol connections - catechins, epicatechins,anthocyanins, andhydroxycinnamates; they all possess the strong antioxidant and anticancerogenic properties.

Doctor Serg Reno, who, together with the center of preventive medicine in the Nansi city, conducted a study of the influence of wine on the cancerous diseases of man, considers that the wine influences beneficially as preventive means against cardiovascular diseases and cancer only when men consume not more than three glasses of wine (i.e. around 300 - 400 g during the day), but for woman, it is two times less. In its study doctor Reno sums up 15 observations of 34,000 patients, who were under inspection and consultations in the center of preventive medicine in Nansi city. The medical maps of patients, who were checked in the period from 1978 through 1983, are used as the data base. In 1993 the results of the patients were produced. It was explained that 2642 people had already died. Reno began to examine the reasons for death, and derived statistics of diseases in each observed group. In the past ten years in those patients who were under observation in Nansi, who drank their daily "preventive" standard of 300 - 400 g of wine, mortality from all illnesses as a whole was about 30% lower than in nondrinkers. In the patients who drank wine moderately, the mortality from the infraction was 20% less and 30% less mortality from stroke.

As far as cancer is concerned, it was lower by 20% in those that consumed wines. Moreover these relationships were observed in all social categories of patients - from the "white" collar to the "blue", regardless of the fact if they smoked or not, have had the high/low cholesterol, etc. Speaking about the benefit of wine, the French scientist emphasizes the factor of moderation. His study shows that the mortality from cancer and other illnesses increases in the group that misuses wine, exceeding daily standard of 2-3 glasses.

The Biological Properties of Resveratrol

The Cardiovascular System

Resveratrol causes an increase in the blood of the so-called "good" cholesterol - the lipoproteins of high density (LPVP), and also reduces the amount of triglycerides, "poor" lipoproteins of low density and cholesterol in the blood. By the name "kojo-kon”, Resveratrol by centuries was used in Chinese and Japanese medicine for treating many illnesses, including atherosclerosis. Lipoproteins - important participants in the metabolic processes in organisms, the structural component of the cellular membranes, which under specific conditions can lead to the severe illnesses of vascular system - to atherosclerosis, thrombosis, thrombophlebitis, myocardial infarction and stroke. The lipoproteins of low density as cholesterol "sticking" to the walls of vessels can lead to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, clots, the calcification of arteries, decreasing their elasticity and leading to the gangrenes and ulcers. On the contrary, LPVP do not have a capability for aggregation, dissolve "poor" lipoproteins, they decrease the viscosity of the blood and, as a result, decrease the risk of the appearance of diseases mentioned above.

Hematology

Scientists from The Milan University established the positive influence of Resveratrol on the aggregation of the regular elements in the blood. In the concentration 3.56 micrograms/l Resveratrol decreased the aggregation by 50.3%. In the concentration, typical for the red wine – 1.2 micrograms/l, this phytoalexin reduced aggregation by 41.9%. With the maximum values of concentration of Resveratrol in the wine, it was possible to reach reduction in the aggregation up to 78.5%.

Neurology

Resveratrol, as showed studies, decreases the risk of the appearance of neuro-degenerate diseases - the diseases of Alzheimer and Parkinson. This substance increases seven times the activity of the fermentation of the substance, which contributes to regeneration and restoration of nerve cells. In the experiments it is shown that precisely Resveratrol caused the appearance of “the microscopic belts”, by which the nerve cells contact each other. Resveratrol contributes to the restoration of nervous connections in the damaged sections of the brain, and thus, helps to restore cognitive abilities in neurological patients or the elderly.

Endocrinology

Resveratrol also possesses the properties of phytoestrogen. In the studies carried out in the Department of the Endocrinology of the Medical Department of the University of Chicago, it was shown that Resveratrol has a structure resemblance to the estrogen-diethylstilbestrol. In the concentration 3-10 m Resveratrol suppresses the binding of estradiol with estrogen receptors, which, in turn, activates the transcription of the estrogen-dependent genes. This transcription activation required presence in the special genes of the estrogen-dependent receptors and was inhibited by the specific antagonists of estrogen. In some types of cells, Resveratrol behaves as a super-antagonist, i.e., it causes a larger effect than estradiol. Resveratrol also increases the expression of the native estrogen- adjustable genes. The ability of Resveratrol to inhibit the malignant cells was shown on the culture of the cells of cancer of the female breast gland. A statistically reliable study confirmed that with the concentrations of Resveratrol of 10 m and above, the oppression of the carcinogenic activity of 17-beta- estradiol was observed, both on the cellular and on the molecular level. The positive action of Resveratrol was shown with osteoporosis, which resulted from menopause.

As a whole Resveratrol manifests to different degrees of antagonism with respect to the estrogen receptors, which makes it possible to use it for the correction of different hormonal disorders.

Oncology

Studies carried out in the Laboratory of Carcinogenesis in Philadelphia showed that Resveratrol possesses the anticancer activity and suppresses the processes in the cells which lead to the appearance, development and to the progression of cancer formations. On the culture of cancer epithelial cells was conducted the study of the influence of Resveratrol with doses 5, 10, 20 and 40 g/ml. The proliferating activity of cellular lines was evaluated with the aid of the colorimetry. Results showed that Resveratrol inhibits the proliferation of malignantly degenerated epithelial cells. The degree of inhibition directly depended on dose and time of exposure. Obtained data confirmed that Resveratrol is the effective means of the preventive maintenance of cancer of mammary gland.

Generalizing the data presented, it is possible to say that the natural antioxidants found in Grape seed ensure the protective maintenance of many illnesses. They prevent the premature aging of an organism, prevent the development of the most common diseases, and in many instances, they contribute to the correction of different pathologic states.