Health benefits Resveratrol

Alfalfa does not normally contain resveratrol so this system provides a nice model for testing the value of adding it. Resveratrol is known to have antimicrobial activity and this activity may contribute to reduced root and crown disease in transgenic alfalfa. In addition, resveratrol has human health benefits, including cancer and heart disease prevention. Furthermore, the technologies developed could be applied to other crops that are more commonly consnmed as part of the human diet to achieve broader hnman health benefit. 

To investigate the probable health benefits of flavonoids and stilbenes in red wine, a RP HPLC method with enhanced separation efficiency, selectivity, sensitivity, and speed has been established for the determination of the flavonols quercetin, myricetin, and kaempferol and the stilbenes cis- and trany-resveratrol in a single The... 

Resveratrol (82) is a polyphenolic antioxidant found in many plants, including grapes, nuts, and berries. First isolated in 1940 from the roots of white hellebore Veratrum grandiflorum), it has gained prominence through its association with the highly publicized French Paradox linked to the drinking of red wine. There is an extensive literature on the multiple health benefits attributed to resveratrol and interested readers are referred to several recent reviews that summarize the available data. ... 

This chapter reviews the health benefits of pistachio in relation to the phytochemicals found in pistachio kernels and peels. Phytochemicals previously identified from pistachios include phytosterols, lutein, resveratrol, and anthocyanins. Pistachios are unique among tree nuts both in having anthocya-nins in their peels and significant amounts of lutein both in the peel and the kernel of the nut. 

Phenolic compounds, primarily flavonoids, have antioxidant properties which may contribute to health benefits of wine consumption (Kanner et ai, 1994 Frankel, 1994). Wine consumption has a possible cardioprotective effect and may prevent thrombosis (Frankel, 1994). Epicatechin and quercetin are more effective in preventing LDL (low density lipoprotein) oxidation than a-tocopherol (vitamin E) (Frankel, 1994). Quercetin is found at an average concentration of 25 mg/L in red wine. Catechin and epicatechins are among the most abundant phenolics in wine and are present at about 150 mg/ L in red wine and about 15 mg/ L in white wine. Resveratrol is thought to be of major importance as a dietary antioxidant in red wines, but levels are much lower than catechin/epicatechin (Frankel, 1994). 

Resveratrol is a well known stilbene that exerts health benefits when consumed as grapes or grape products, primarily due to antioxidant activity [60-61]. 

The non-flavonoids in wine comprise many classes of chemicals including hydroxycinnamates, benzoates, and stilbenes. Much ado has been made in the media about the health benefits of a particular kind of stilbene, called "resveratrol," which is unique to grapes and is not found in other fruits or vegetables. 

The diet consists of varied ingredients that impart their potential benefits to human health. Potential interaction of resveratrol with other constituents of the diet is worth considering. Resveratrol has been shown to synergize with both quercetin and ellagic acid present in most of our natural products, in the induction of apoptosis in human leukemia cells [Mertens-Talcott and Percival... 

Cardiovascular diseases are a major cause of death in developed countries, making prevention a priority for public health policy. Research evidence over years has shown that cardiovascular diseases can be managed and even prevented by healthful eating practices involving a resveratrol-enriched diet of whole plant foods such as offered by superfruits. For more than fifty years, research has shown that a healthful, active lifestyle combined with the dietary benefit of high fruit and vegetable intake may lower blood lipid levels, blood pressure, and risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. 

Resveratrol (Fig. 23), a stilbene found in many food sources, e.g., peanuts and red wine, is assumed to have multiple benefits on human health. Most attention has been received by the so-called French paradox , the low occurrence of cardiovacular disease in populations living on a diet high in saturated fats, but consuming red wine. The protective effect of red wine is attributed to its proanthocyanidin and resveratrol contents. Possible mechanisms disscussed are the inhibition of oxidation of LDL cholesterol and platelet aggregation. Resveratrol may also increase longevity by activation of sirtuins, NAD+-dependent protein deacetylases involved in aging, which respond to oxidative stress and are induced by a low-calory diet. Resveratrol mimics the effects of a low-calory diet and extends the... 

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