412
diseases including cancer and cardiovascular diseases, as well as extend the life
span of various organisms (Baur and Sinclair 2006).
E and Z forms of stilbene elicit different pharmacological activities. It has been
found that the Z form is more potent compared to the E form (Roupe et al. 2006).
Trans-stilbene compounds are more potent than cis-stilbenes in inhibiting cyclooxygenase 1 (Teguo et al. 2001).
17.6 Anti-inflammatory Action of Stilbenes
The mechanism of anti-inflammatory effects of stilbenes includes inhibition of synthesis and release of pro-inflammatory mediators, modification of eicosanoid synthesis, inhibition of activated immune cells, and inhibition of inducible nitric oxide
synthase, cyclooxygenase 1 or cyclooxygenase 2. Resveratrol and related stilbenes
reduce inflammation by inhibiting prostaglandin production, cyclooxygenase 2
activity, NF κB activity or activator protein 1 (AP1) (Kundu et al. 2006; Shankar
et al. 2007; Hougee et al. 2005). Resveratrol also inhibits the inflammatory process
by regulating upstream protein kinases such as IκB kinase (Kundu et al. 2006;
Subbaramaiah and Dannenberg 2001), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) (Subbaramaiah
et al. 1998), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) (Kundu et al. 2004; Yu et al.
2001), protein kinase C (PKC) (Yu et al. 2001), Phosphatidylinositol-3- kinase
(PI3K) PI3K-AKT (Pozo-Guisado et al. 2004; Das et al. 2006) and p38 (Das et al.
2006). Consequently, resveratrol and related stilbenes down regulate several key
inflammatory markers such as COX-2, 5-LOX and iNOS, as well as inflammatory
mediators such as TNFa,VEGF, IL-1, IL-6 and IL-8 (Aggarwal et al. 2006; Das
et al. 2006; Shankar et al. 2007). Pterostilbene, a naturally occurring stilbene in
blueberries, was shown to decrease expression of inflammatory genes, such as
inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the colonic crypts and Aberrant crypt foci
(ACF) in rats, suggesting that the anti-inflammatory properties of stilbenes may be
critical in the prevention of colon tumourogenesis (Suh et al. 2007). Resveratrol is
cytotoxic to macrophages, impairs their ability to proliferate (Billack et al. 2008)
and reduces the expression of inflammatory mediators (Kim et al. 2011). The benzene ring appears to play an essential role in the anti-inflammatory properties of
resveratrol. Resveratrol has been shown to reduce edema.
17.7 Antioxidant Properties of Resveratrol
Wine polyphenols are potent dietary antioxidants. The antioxidant property of resveratrol is an important aspect of the physiological properties of resveratrol, particularly in relation to protection from oxidative injuries. The antioxidant property
of resveratrol constitutes the major part of preventing tumour induction. The antioxidant effect of resveratrol was manifested in blood mononuclear cells by a significant reduction in malondialdehyde content, an indication of oxidative injury (Losa
2003). The effect of resveratrol on oxidative/nitrative stress by peroxynitrite, which
N. Vijayan et al.
diseases including cancer and cardiovascular diseases, as well as extend the life
span of various organisms (Baur and Sinclair 2006).
E and Z forms of stilbene elicit different pharmacological activities. It has been
found that the Z form is more potent compared to the E form (Roupe et al. 2006).
Trans-stilbene compounds are more potent than cis-stilbenes in inhibiting cyclooxygenase 1 (Teguo et al. 2001).
17.6 Anti-inflammatory Action of Stilbenes
The mechanism of anti-inflammatory effects of stilbenes includes inhibition of synthesis and release of pro-inflammatory mediators, modification of eicosanoid synthesis, inhibition of activated immune cells, and inhibition of inducible nitric oxide
synthase, cyclooxygenase 1 or cyclooxygenase 2. Resveratrol and related stilbenes
reduce inflammation by inhibiting prostaglandin production, cyclooxygenase 2
activity, NF κB activity or activator protein 1 (AP1) (Kundu et al. 2006; Shankar
et al. 2007; Hougee et al. 2005). Resveratrol also inhibits the inflammatory process
by regulating upstream protein kinases such as IκB kinase (Kundu et al. 2006;
Subbaramaiah and Dannenberg 2001), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) (Subbaramaiah
et al. 1998), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) (Kundu et al. 2004; Yu et al.
2001), protein kinase C (PKC) (Yu et al. 2001), Phosphatidylinositol-3- kinase
(PI3K) PI3K-AKT (Pozo-Guisado et al. 2004; Das et al. 2006) and p38 (Das et al.
2006). Consequently, resveratrol and related stilbenes down regulate several key
inflammatory markers such as COX-2, 5-LOX and iNOS, as well as inflammatory
mediators such as TNFa,VEGF, IL-1, IL-6 and IL-8 (Aggarwal et al. 2006; Das
et al. 2006; Shankar et al. 2007). Pterostilbene, a naturally occurring stilbene in
blueberries, was shown to decrease expression of inflammatory genes, such as
inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the colonic crypts and Aberrant crypt foci
(ACF) in rats, suggesting that the anti-inflammatory properties of stilbenes may be
critical in the prevention of colon tumourogenesis (Suh et al. 2007). Resveratrol is
cytotoxic to macrophages, impairs their ability to proliferate (Billack et al. 2008)
and reduces the expression of inflammatory mediators (Kim et al. 2011). The benzene ring appears to play an essential role in the anti-inflammatory properties of
resveratrol. Resveratrol has been shown to reduce edema.
17.7 Antioxidant Properties of Resveratrol
Wine polyphenols are potent dietary antioxidants. The antioxidant property of resveratrol is an important aspect of the physiological properties of resveratrol, particularly in relation to protection from oxidative injuries. The antioxidant property
of resveratrol constitutes the major part of preventing tumour induction. The antioxidant effect of resveratrol was manifested in blood mononuclear cells by a significant reduction in malondialdehyde content, an indication of oxidative injury (Losa
2003). The effect of resveratrol on oxidative/nitrative stress by peroxynitrite, which
N. Vijayan et al.