Resveratrol up close

Researchers have gained EU funding to investigate how the much-discussed antioxidant resveratrol may benefit human health.

The plant chemical, resveratrol (or 3,4,5-trihydroxystilbene), often thought to be responsible for the heart health benefits seen in wine drinkers, is not only found in grapes but also in peanuts, and in some medicinal plants such as eucalyptus.

The potent antioxidant has been linked with the prevention of diseases such as atherosclerosis, cancers and Parkinson's disease. Resveratrol has also been shown to act as a phytoestrogen, mimicking the action of the hormone oestrogen. It is thought that phytoestrogens may protect against hormone-dependent types of cancer (such as breast cancer) and osteoporosis.

However, there have been few studies of the metabolism of resveratrol in humans, although it was recently shown that resveratrol is metabolised in the liver to produce resveratrol glucuronide and sulphate metabolites.

The new project, Marek Murias, aims to evaluate the antioxidant and antiproliferative effects of these metabolites. Researchers, co-ordinated by Professor Dr Walter Jäge from the University of Vienna's Institue of Pharmaceutical Chemistry will isolate resveratrol metabolites and try to determine the potential cytotoxicity of isolated resveratrol metabolites. They also aim to look at structural identification of biotransformation products and then estimate the antioxidant and antiproliferative (cell multiplication) effects of isolated resveratrol metabolites.

The results of this project could be used to help formulate food additives with antioxidant properties, which may help reduce mortality from coronary heart disease and cancer, suggest the researchers.

For more details on project QLK1-2001-51859, contact Walter Jäge​.