Resveratrol

Even as early as the fourth century BC, the famous physician Hippocrates is said to have recognised the following: “Wine is a thing, wonderfully suited to man, provided that the beverage is used judiciously and in the right measure in good and bad health, in accordance with the physical constitution of the individual.” Aside from that, the “French paradox” remains a persistent hypothesis, stating that the socially accepted higher consumption of red wine in France lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease. But what is behind all this? Should we really drink red wine in order to stay healthy for life?

From a scientific point of view, this is clearly to be denied as it is now known that the natural polyphenol resveratrol, which is found in significant amounts in grapes of all colours, represents the central health-promoting component of red wine. After the discovery of this secon­dary plant substance in 1939, an extensive search for its origins began, yielding numerous fruits as natural sources of resveratrol. Apart from grapes, these include most berries, such as strawberries, mountain cranberries, blueberries, and red and black currants, as well as nuts such as peanuts and pistachios. But why do so many plants contain resveratrol? This phytoalexin protects them from infection, adverse weather conditions and premature over-ripening, thereby increasing the survival time of these fruit and plants.

THE EFFECT OF RESVERATROL ON THE HUMAN BODY

In view of this, the last few decades have been used to intensively investigate resveratrol’s effects on human cells and the human body. All in all, the investigations revealed a variety of effects that protect, maintain and defend our health. The phytopharmaceutical influences the metabolic as well as immune system and has both neuroprotective and cardioprotective effects. Interestingly, treatment with resveratrol increases the enzyme nitric oxide synthase, which is responsible for the production of the well-known cardiac vasodilator nitric oxide (NO). In addition to these prophylactic mechanisms, resveratrol is even able to inhibit the growth of cancer cells and increase the effect of classic chemo­therapeutic agents by sensitising the cells. This extensive modulation is based on a strict regulation of the inflammatory cascades around the main transcription factor of all inflammatory processes, known as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB).

In order to curb both acute and chronic inflammation, resveratrol restricts the secretion of pro-inflammatory cyto­kines and enzymes such as TNF-α, TNF-β, IFN-γ, COX-2, MMPs and various interleukins, thereby preventing the activation of NF-kB. However, the phosphory­lation of NF-kB itself and the pro­duction of its inflammation-promoting end products are also blocked by this natural polyphenol.  Additionally, the plant substance has an anti-oxidative effect in all organs and eliminates environmentally induced irritation in various tissues by balancing nitrogen oxides and reducing stress in cells.

Besides these catabolic options of intervention, resveratrol also utilises anabolic processes in healthy tissues and stabilises primary connective tissue cells such as osteocytes, chondrocytes and tenocytes. In this respect, a clinical study showed that the daily consumption of blueberries containing resveratrol significantly improved the quality of life of patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee joint by reducing pain and improving function.

It was also recently discovered that the intake of blackcurrant nectar by healthy volunteers leads to a significant reduction in sports-related muscle damage. Apart from its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects, this suggests that resveratrol also has regenerative potential. Fortunately, the phytopharmaceutical can be taken as part of a balanced diet or in regular doses as a supplement. So far, neither relevant side effects nor allergic reactions to resveratrol administration have been encountered in humans.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the regular use of resveratrol represents a promising preventive and (co-)therapeutic approach to complementary medicine and could also prove to be a multifunctional pearl of nature from a sports medicine perspective in the future.

References

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Autoren

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Mehdi Shakibaei

Lehrstuhl Anatomie I der LMU München, ist einer der weltweit führenden Experten auf dem Gebiet der Grundlagenforschung zur Entzündungsmodulation des muskuloskelettalen Systems mittels Phytopharmaka.

Aranka Brockmüller

ist Ärztin und Doktorandin in der Arbeitsgruppe von Prof. Mehdi Shakibaei am Lehrstuhl Anatomie I der LMU München und forscht auf dem Gebiet der Entzündungsmodulation durch Phytopharmaka.