As the global cancer incidence rate continues to rise, finding highly effective and low-toxic anti-tumor drugs has become a major issue that needs to be urgently addressed in the medical community.
Resveratrol is highly regarded for its exceptional antioxidant properties, powerful anti-inflammatory effects, and significant protective effects on heart health, brain function, and metabolic health. It has also received widespread attention for inhibiting tumor cells. In this article, let us explore the benefits that resveratrol can bring to our health.
Resveratrol Basics
What Is Resveratrol
Resveratrol is a polyphenol compound extracted from natural plants and is a natural antioxidant. It is widely found in plants such as grapes, Knotweed, blueberries, mulberries, and peanuts, especially in grape skins and red wine. It was first discovered in the 1930s, and with the continuous deepening of scientific research, people gradually realized its great value.
Chemical Structure and Properties
Resveratrol exists in two main forms: trans-resveratrol (the more biologically active form) and cis-resveratrol. The trans form is considered more stable and potent, making it the preferred form in supplements and research studies.
Resveratrol Sources
The main natural sources of resveratrol include fruits and peels of grapes (especially grape skins), blueberries, raspberries, mulberries, peanuts, etc. In addition, knotweed (a plant of the Polygonaceae family) is also an important source of resveratrol and is often used to extract and produce resveratrol. Most supplements containing resveratrol today are made from the extract of the root of the knotweed plant.
Health Benefits
Antioxidant Effects
The antioxidant properties of resveratrol are the basis of its many health benefits. It is a powerful free radical scavenger that can effectively remove free radicals, inhibit lipid peroxidation, and protect cells from oxidative damage. Long-term and appropriate intake can help reduce skin wrinkles and maintain skin elasticity.
Anti-Inflammatory Action
Macrophages play a key role in inflammatory responses. It can inhibit the expression of growth factors and cytokine genes secreted by macrophages by inhibiting the nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) activation pathway.
Resveratrol inhibits the release of inflammatory factors (such as TNF-α, IL-6), has a potential mitigating effect on inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and ulcerative colitis, and enhances the activity of immune cells.
Cardiovascular Health
It can reduce total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, while increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, which helps improve dyslipidemia, reduce lipid deposition in blood vessel walls, and reduce the risk of atherosclerosis.
By activating the deacetylase Sirt1, it prevents the differentiation and proliferation of pre-adipocytes, promotes white fat mobilization and the decomposition of differentiated adipocytes, and reduces fat accumulation in the liver and other parts, which indirectly benefits cardiovascular health.
Brain Support
Enhance the dopaminergic system, increase the synthesis and release of dopamine, improve motor control, cognitive function, and mood regulation.
Regulate the glutamatergic system, inhibit the release of excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate, reduce neurotoxicity, and protect neurons from overexcitement damage.
Promote the cholinergic system, increase the synthesis and release of acetylcholine, improve memory and learning ability, and enhance cognitive function.
Metabolic Balance
It can activate signaling pathways such as AMPK and SIRT1, promote glucose uptake and utilization, and increase insulin sensitivity, thereby helping to maintain blood sugar stability. In some clinical trials, the blood sugar levels of patients supplemented with resveratrol were controlled to a certain extent.
By activating related signaling pathways, it can regulate the function of pancreatic beta cells, promote the normal secretion of insulin, and make blood sugar fluctuate within the normal range. It has positive significance for preventing and improving diabetes and other sugar metabolism disorders.
Anti-Aging & Skin
It is a highly effective antioxidant that can provide hydrogen atoms to effectively neutralize free radicals produced during oxidative stress, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), reduce the damage of free radicals to skin cells, and prevent them from causing oxidative damage to cell membranes and DNA, thereby delaying skin aging.
It can increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the skin, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), enhance the skin’s own antioxidant defense capabilities, and better resist the damage of oxidative substances in the external environment to the skin.
Cancer Protection
It has shown some potential in cancer treatment. Studies have shown that resveratrol may help regulate the cell cycle process, thereby preventing abnormal cell growth and division. In addition, it can reduce the expression of anti-apoptotic protein bcl-2 and promote the expression of apoptotic proteins bax and caspase-3, thereby inducing tumor cell apoptosis.
How to Use Resveratrol
Food vs. Supplements
Food: Incorporating resveratrol-rich foods into your diet provides the compound along with other beneficial nutrients and compounds that may enhance its effects. Red wine, grapes, berries, and dark chocolate can all contribute to resveratrol intake.
Supplement: Resveratrol supplements typically provide higher concentrations than food sources, making them attractive for those seeking therapeutic levels. However, supplements should complement, not replace, a healthy diet rich in diverse antioxidants.
Absorption and utilization
Food: The absorption rate of resveratrol in food is relatively low in the intestines, and it is easily affected by other ingredients in food, such as fat, protein, etc., which may promote its absorption, while dietary fiber, etc., may inhibit its absorption. In addition, after entering the human body, resveratrol will be metabolized by organs such as the liver, and its bioavailability is also low.
Supplements: Resveratrol in supplements is usually specially processed, such as microencapsulation, liposomes, etc., which can improve its solubility and absorption rate in the intestines. In addition, the resveratrol in supplements is of high purity, not interfered by other food ingredients, and has a relatively high bioavailability.
Safety and side effects
Food: Resveratrol in food is relatively safe and generally does not cause adverse reactions. However, if certain foods rich in resveratrol are consumed in excess, it may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, etc.
Supplements: Resveratrol in supplements may cause some side effects when used in high doses, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and other gastrointestinal discomfort symptoms, and may also affect liver function and drug metabolism. In addition, it may have mild estrogenic activity, and people with estrogen-sensitive diseases should avoid taking it.
Conclusion
Resveratrol stands out for its broad-spectrum health benefits, from heart and brain protection to anti-aging and metabolic support. Whether you’re exploring it for wellness, product development, or research, resveratrol is backed by a growing body of scientific evidence.
