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Resveratrol News
16December2011
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Resveratrol is a natural compound that works as a chemopreventive compound as many pre-clinical trials have demonstrated. Ongoing studies have given vast amounts of information to the pharmacokinetics of this compound.
Most of those studies have been done in cells or tissues where dose ranged from 10-5 to 10-4 M concentrations. In itself, these concentrations may be useful for a researcher to know but can be difficult to interpret into practical dosages for the average person. Therefore, several questions remain to be fully addressed. For example, what is the most suitable dose of resveratrol for effective cancer preventive intervention on a person?
This and other questions are discussed in recent scientific articles and simple straightforward answers remain elusive. In a recent article, a group of scientist led by Andrea Gescher discussed our current understanding of this topic and concludes that more research is needed to understand the pharmacokinetics of resveratrol (Molecular Nutrition and food Research, 2011).
In another review article by Thomas Walle from Medical University of South Carolina the bioavailability, adsorption and metabolism of resveratrol is discussed (Annals of the New York of Academy of Sciences, 2011 pages 9-15). Although this article provides more general information with regards to dosages, for example during initial resveratrol studies 25 mg of resveratrol were given in studies trying to emulate the dosage provided with the intake of red wine. Interesting, this article points out how researchers logical approach of increasing the dosage to increase the chemopreventive beneficial effects of resveratrol does not lead to more resveratrol in the blood stream.
They suggest that this may be explained by the fact that we might not know exactly what resveratrol is interacting with that gives us these benefits. In addition, Dr. Walle discusses that resveratrol may be changed into one of its analogues (a resveratrol-like structure) that actually may be imparting the health benefits.
Interesting, some of the concerns that Dr. Walle comment with regards to adsorption are also addressed in another article this month (Journal of Agricultural and food Chemistry, 2011 pages 12352-12360). In this research article, the authors address the adsorption by nanoencapsulating resveratrol. The authors conclude that nanoencapsulating of resveratrol lead to higher chemical and antioxidant activity suggesting that nanoencapsulating resveratrol not digested in the gastrointestinal tract leads to better adsorption.
Resveratrol News
5May2011
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Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most aggressive tumors with a very low median survival rate of 14.8 months. Sadly it is also the most common primary brain tumor.
Although multiple studies have been done on this cancer few have yielded good results in large part due to the brain barrier’s ability to select out therapeutic chemicals. So efforts to ameliorate the disease are welcomed, even if they involve baby steps in the direction of more efficient treatments and increased patient survival rate.
In a recent publication aimed at maximizing therapeutic treatment and determining the molecular mechanisms of resveratrol has on GBM, resulted in favorable outcome (Journal of Cellular Physiology 2011 April online).
In the research article the investigators systematic approach first involved establishing the function and needs of the GBM cancer, in this case the cancer needed the activation of a protein called STAT3. They then demonstrated in both animal and cell models that treating with resveratrol in combination with radiation increased the likelihood of the cancer cell dying. As far as the mechanism, they determined that STAT3 was inhibited by this combination treatment.
Bottom line, survival rated was significantly improved. A good baby step in the right direction.
Resveratrol, Brain Cancer and Arthritis
18March2011
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Malignant glioblastoma is currently a difficult cancer to treat because its ability to diffuse, rate of recurrence and resistance to treatment. As the most prevalent type of brain tumor, glioblastoma has the worst prognosis of a central nervous cancer with medial survival rate of 14 months.
In a current study published in the journal of agricultural and food chemistry (J agric Food Chem (web) March 2011) a group from Italy, conducted experiments to determine the anticancer properties of resveratrol on a human glioblastoma cultures. The results of their experiments determined that resveratrol was able to stop the growth of the tumor cells and limit the ability of the cells to migrate.
In addition to these findings the researchers observed that once the cells were treated with resveratrol the protection lasted four days. These observations collectively support the possibility of using resveratrol to be administered in the chemotherapy regimen of these cancers. Giving a little more hope ways to treat this deadly cancer.
In another study published in the same journal, resveratrol was used to treat arthritis (journal of agricultural and food chemistry (web) March 2011). In their study, this group compared other stilbenes (analog molecules similar to resveratrol) and their ability to treat arthritis. In the study, the method that researchers used to measure anti-inflammatory arthiritis effects was measuring the compounds involved with inducing inflammation. They observed that by a combination of various stilbenes they were able to decrease the inflammation due to arthritis.
Resveratrol Dose By The Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
3February2011
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Occasionally scientific journals will ask leading scientist to write reviews that in their opinion highlight the most important discoveries on a subject of interest. A new series of articles have been recently published by the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences highlighting the many functions of resveratrol (Volume 1215, Resveratrol and Health).
We have selected a few of these articles and briefly reviewed those articles that may be of relevance to individuals taking resveratrol. The first of these articles deals with resveratrol and its effects on cancer mechanisms (pages 1-8). The article does a very good job at describing some of the pathways that are important for resveratrol’s anticancer properties.
For example, the authors go over the data that clearly indicates that apoptosis (a method of killing cells) is important for chemoprevention which is enhanced by resveratrol. (There is another article that specifically addresses the apoptotic properties of resveratrol on pages 79-88). Equally important is the conclusion they make which is what many have suspected all along: “resveratrol hold [a] tremendous potential as an efficient anticancer drug of the future”.
This article is followed by a review on our current understanding of the bioavailability and metabolism of resveratrol with an emphasis on humans (pages 9-15). Interestingly, this article also discusses the resveratrol analogs that may help improve bioavailability of resveratrol to our cells. On this note, there is an article (pages 131-137) that discusses clinical data supporting the uptake of 450 mg/day.
The next article (pages 16-21), deals with the cardioprotective effects of resveratrol. In short, the coronary heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States and for Western cultures. The strengths of this article may be the section where the authors discuss the many proteins specifically targeted by resveratrol, such as NQO2, and suggest a framework for uncovering how these proteins are aided by resveratrol.
Another article in this compendium that also discusses cardioprotective effects but takes a different angle is on pages 117-122. However, in this article the authors emphasize more the vascular system as a whole and then how resveratrol’s anti-inflammatory properties may be the mechanism for preventing or reducing the vascular aging in the elderly. In short there many interesting article in this collection that merit some reading.
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