resveratrolIt is a chemical compound found in some varieties of plants. It is also known as phytoalexin and is naturally produced by plants as an antibiotic substance to fight bacteria and fungi. Plants that contain the compound include grapes, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, and the skin of grapes that produce wine. The chemical compound is also found in pine trees, peanuts, and Japanese knuckles.
The initial reasons for considering the agent as potentially beneficial were the observation of the French lifestyle. Although the French eat an unhealthy diet that is higher in fat than most other countries, their incidence of heart disease is unexpectedly low. Many believe that the reason for the lower level of heart disease is the frequent use of red wine. Red wine has been shown to have anticoagulant effects and many believe thatresveratrolhas a role to play in this.
It should be noted that wine has a minimal amount of the chemical compound. One of the best food sources for the supplement is peanuts. Peanuts have considerably higher content of the compound than grapes and wine-producing berries.
The chemical agent is widely believed to possess anti-aging properties. This has caused the substance to be marketed as a nutritional supplement. So far, studies in mice provide the only evidence that the compound could prolong human life.
The compound has also been found to be an excellent antioxidant. It can broaden exercise tolerance and can also help reduce memory loss. Some evidence supports claims that it might increase the tendency to combat retroviruses such as herpes and HIV.
As an anti-aging drug, the compound is marketed worldwide as a nutritional supplement. However, it should be noted that not all negative effects of the supplement have been studied. Some evidence in mouse studies suggests that the agent might function like an estrogen in the human body and promote breast cancer.
At the same time, the supplement has a very small amount of the compound compared to what is naturally derived from food. Some people suggest that when the compound is consumed in food, it leaves the body relatively faster than the supplement version. The effects could also be minimized as the supplement has lower doses of the compound than used in the mouse studies.
In a new study with mice, researchers have foundresveratrolpossess anti-inflammatory properties. The antioxidant found in red wine protected the mice while they were exposed to a strong inflammatory agent.
Laboratory mice that were not previously treated with the compound developed an acute reaction to the inflammatory disorder called sepsis. Sepsis is a serious inflammation that causes death if left untreated. Even if it is treated, sepsis causes damage to internal organs due to severe inflammation.
The research is yet another in a long series of studies that continue to demonstrate the multifaceted benefits of the compound.
