 Polyphenol  3,4’,5-trihydroxystilbene  First isolated from the roots of white hellebore in 1940  French Paradox  Serge Renaud  CBS 60 Minutes 1991  Later justified in Lancet 1992  High intake of sat fat but low mortality from CHD  Found in:  Red Wine  Red/Purple Grapes  Peanuts and Tree Nuts

Potential Beneficial Effects of Resveratrol  Anti-oxidant  Anti-inflammatory  Anti-atherogenic  Inhibition of platelet aggregation  Promotion of vasodilation

 Real Caloric Restriction  30% reduction in caloric intake  Activation of histone deacetylase enymes known as “sirtuins”  SIR2 genes  Found in DNA  Resveratrol most potent natural product activator of SIR2 genes mimicing CR

Resveratrol has been found to improve diabetes when delivered orally to rats Diabetic Rats have received injections to the brain, which activated the sirtuins in the brain, improving high levels of blood sugar and insulin

 Damage to the mitochondria  Electron leaks which result in highly damaging Free radicals Resvertrol helps stop the damage: Helping cells make proactive enzymes to prevent leakage of electrons Stop the production of toxic Free Radicals Elevated levels of Glucose cause: library.thinkquest.org/ 11226/main/s03.htm

 Inhibits initiation, promotion, and progression stages  Initiates cell cycle arrest  Increases transcription factor p53  Promotes cell apopstosis  Programmed cell death and cytotoxicity  Activation of other apopstotic pathways  Inhibits angiogenesis  Feeds tumor  Facilitates metastases  Inhibits inflammation  Cellular proliferation & angiogenesis  Inhibits apopstosis  Destroys estrogen metabolites & obstructs their reaction with DNA

 No known side effects or toxicity levels in human subjects. (Nutrition Reviews)  Data from numerous studies is promising.  85-90% decrease in viability of human neuroblastoma cells ( in vitro ).  70-80% decrease in mouse models ( in vivo ). (Nutrition Reviews)

 Bioavailability  Resveratrol vs. metabolites  in vitro vs. in vivo  Mouse vs. Man  Dose dependency  Low dose - heart health  High dose - Cancer treatment/prevention  Anti-oxidant vs. pro-oxidant  Normally anti-oxidant  Pro-oxidant in presence of transition metal ions (Cu++)  Wine vs. other alcohol