Resveratrol anti-inflammatory response

Recently, numerous possible ways have been identified by which resveratrol may attenuate inflammation in various organs. The anti-inflammatory response of resveratrol was realized from its ability to down-regulate pro-inflammatory... 

Type III polyketide synthases are particularly relevant to this chapter because they catalyze the formation of phenolic compounds. This group of polyketide synthases consists of CHSs, stilbene synthase (STS), and curcuminoid synthase (CUS), which perform decarboxylative condensations between a starter unit, either p-coumaroyl-CoA 19 or cinnamoyl-CoA 18, and an extender unit, malonyl-CoA 10. CHS, STS, and CUS convert the substrate molecules into flavo-noids (Cg-Cs-Cg), stilbenoids 8 (Cg-C2-Cg), and curcuminoids 9 (Cg-C7-C6), respectively [59]. Stilbenoids 8 and curcuminoids 9 are out of the scope of this chapter but possess medicinal properties as well resveratrol is a well-known stilbenoid 8 associated with longevity, and curcumin is a common curcuminoid 9 that is responsible for the yellow color in turmeric and can be utilized as a natural pigment possessing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties [60-63]. For an in-depth treatment of plant polyketide production in microbes, the reader is directed to a recent comprehensive review by Boghigian et al. [64]. 

Remarkably, the extracts of transgenic resveratrol containing tomato fruits displayed an anti-inflammatory effect greater than that of chemically synthesized resveratrol. In conclusion, these results indicate that the presence of a new biosynthetic route responsible for resveratrol biosynthesis improves the health-giving biological activities of tomatoes. 

The anti-inflammatory effects of nutraceuticals (curcumin, resveratrol, EGCG and other diaiylheptanoids) appear to be associated with their ability to inhibit NO, prosataglandins and cytokines. One of the most critical targets of these nutraceuticals involves NF-kB that regulates expression of a oIe variety of genes, such as COX-2, iNOS and proinflanunatory cytokines, responsible for inflammation (these targets are summarized in Figure 7). 

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