Everything About Resveratrol

Resveratrol, a naturally occurring antioxidant found in many plants like red grapes, blue berries and peanuts have powerful anti aging and anticancer properties. Resveratrol occurs naturally in the form of cis- and trans-forms in food items like wine and peanuts. Many analogs were developed using the prototype of resveratrol.

Resveratrol analogs, 3, 4, 5, 4′-tetrahydroxystilbene (R-4), has found to have effective anti viral properties. Analog is a derivative of resveratrol with different substituted groups attached to the parent compound. This chemically altered compound -modified resveratrol compound. The position and the binding of hydroxyl groups have found to have a bearing in the properties of resveratrol. So it is possible to make changes in the bonding and create analogs that are effective in fighting cancer or aging according to the need. Resveratrol analogs ensure a localized and specific mode of action.

The resveratrol analogs have found to be effective in stemming the proliferation of cancer cells without causing any harm to the healthy cells. The lab tests on the growth rate and viability of cells were determined using various doses of analogs from 50 ng to 300 μg per ml in culture media. Not all the analogs are effective or as potent as the parent resveratrol in inhibiting the growth and proliferation of cancer cells. Most of the analogs were cell specific and  found to be effective against a particular group of cells.

Resveratrol is a an effective chemotherapeutic agent and among all the analogs 3,4,5,4′-tetramethoxystilbene (DMU-212) is found to be the most potent against cancer cells. The various tests like Western blot and   tubulin polymerization assay showed that compared to resveratrol, the analog has a higher growth inhibition because of its modulation of multiple cellular targets.

Resveratrol has various beneficial properties and come handy in cancer treatment and  in managing age related diseases like Alzheimer’s. Many resveratrol analogs have been invented so far including 3,5-dihydroxystilbene (R-1), 3,3′,5,5′-tetrahydroxystilbene (R-4), 3,3′,4,5,5′-pentahydroxystilbene (R-5), and 3,3′,4,5′-tetrahydroxystilbene (R-2), among others .Analogs can be synthesized in the laboratory or can be extracted from plant material. The studies on the plant extracts have shown that it is possible to extract potent analogs that are as effective as resveratrol.

In the coming days, more research studies would unravel various types of analogs that can be engineered depending on the specific application and use. The analogs have greater reactivity and potency against cancer cells and are found to possess all the properties of Resveratrol.

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