what is resveratrol?
Resveratrol is a polyphenol (particularly a stilbenoïde ), which occurs in several plant species, but especially in the skin of blue grapes . The pure substance exists as a white to pale yellow crystals , which are poorly soluble in water .
Resveratrol is thought to have a beneficial effect in preventing heart disease and cancer. It also has a positive effect on metabolism in obese men.
Appearance
Resveratrol appears inter alia in the skins of red grapes. The concentration strongly depends on the type of grape, the geographic location and exposure to fungal infections. The resveratrol content in wine thereby also depends on the fermentation time. Red wine contains between 0.2 and 5.8 mg / L, while white wine contains much less. This is because the fermentation of red wine is done in the presence of the peel of the grape, whereas in the case of white wine is not the case.
Resveratrol, which is commercially available is mainly isolated from Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum).
Operation
When yeast cells have been shown that resveratrol can prolong the survival time of the cells with an average of 70%, probably due to activation of sirtuin. Also, for organisms such as flies and worms has been shown that the substance has led to a longer life span of cells. Or, the chemical compound also for human cells has such a life-prolonging effect, is still unknown.
Studies indicate an effect that cancer resists. This is especially true against breast cancer. In animal studies provides resveratrol genetic protection against ionizing radiation.
In addition, resveratrol seems to have an anti-bacterial and fungicidal activity, and to be anti-inflammatory, among others, by means of inhibition of COX-2 .