413
is a strong physiological oxidant and inflammatory mediator, was determined in
human blood platelets (Olas et al. 2007). The findings on the antioxidant properties
of resveratrol suggest its possible application in therapy of human diseases.
Resveratrol is a useful drug for the protection of liver cells from oxidative stressinduced damage (Rubiolo et al. 2008). Resveratrol can quench reactive oxygen species and can prevent pro-oxidative damage. It has been revealed that the protection
of cardiomycetes from injury by resveratrol occurs partly by suppression of superoxide levels via antioxidant action. Authors proposed that the antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects, together with the anti-inflammatory actions, are responsible for
the cardio-protective effects of resveratrol (Li et al. 2006). Resveratrol also possesses free radical scavenging capacity (Kovacic and Somanathan 2010).
17.8 Anti-ageing Properties of Resveratrol
The anti-ageing properties of resveratrol have gained much attention. Anti-ageing
properties of resveratrol include cardiovascular benefits via increased NO production, down regulation of vasoactive peptides, lowered level of oxidized low-density
lipo protein, cyclooxygenase inhibition, effects on neural tissues, phytohormonal
actions, anti-cancer properties via modulation of signal transduction, anti-microbial
effects, sirtuin activation, possible benefits in Alzheimer’s disease and prevention of
photo-ageing (Baxter 2008).
17.9 Resveratrol in Cell Signalling
Cell signalling is known to be involved in various aspects of biological functions
including normal processes, therapeutic drug action and toxicology. Resveratrol
impacts many components of the intracellular cell-signalling pathways including
regulation of apoptosis and cell survival, tumour switches involved with kinases,
and transcription factors and their regulators. Evidence indicates that stilbene derivatives target Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) to inhibit platelet-derived
growth factor receptor nitrogenic signalling (Venkatesan et al. 2008). Resveratrol
mediates its effects through modulation of many different pathways by binding to
numerous cell-signalling molecules (Harikumar and Aggarwal 2008). It activates
various transcription factors.
17.10 Other Biological Effects of Resveratrol
Resveratrol reduces nuclear DNA fragmentation (Burkhardt et al. 2001). Reports
indicate that resveratrol can act as an anti-mutagenic/anti-carcinogenic agent by
preventing DNA damage. Resveratrol blocks the expression of genes related to the
NFκB family (Leiro et al. 2005). Through its phycoestrogenic properties resveratrol
regulates hormone-dependent genes in breast cells and provides a protective effect
17 Stilbenes and Their Derivatives in Traditional Medicine
is a strong physiological oxidant and inflammatory mediator, was determined in
human blood platelets (Olas et al. 2007). The findings on the antioxidant properties
of resveratrol suggest its possible application in therapy of human diseases.
Resveratrol is a useful drug for the protection of liver cells from oxidative stressinduced damage (Rubiolo et al. 2008). Resveratrol can quench reactive oxygen species and can prevent pro-oxidative damage. It has been revealed that the protection
of cardiomycetes from injury by resveratrol occurs partly by suppression of superoxide levels via antioxidant action. Authors proposed that the antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects, together with the anti-inflammatory actions, are responsible for
the cardio-protective effects of resveratrol (Li et al. 2006). Resveratrol also possesses free radical scavenging capacity (Kovacic and Somanathan 2010).
17.8 Anti-ageing Properties of Resveratrol
The anti-ageing properties of resveratrol have gained much attention. Anti-ageing
properties of resveratrol include cardiovascular benefits via increased NO production, down regulation of vasoactive peptides, lowered level of oxidized low-density
lipo protein, cyclooxygenase inhibition, effects on neural tissues, phytohormonal
actions, anti-cancer properties via modulation of signal transduction, anti-microbial
effects, sirtuin activation, possible benefits in Alzheimer’s disease and prevention of
photo-ageing (Baxter 2008).
17.9 Resveratrol in Cell Signalling
Cell signalling is known to be involved in various aspects of biological functions
including normal processes, therapeutic drug action and toxicology. Resveratrol
impacts many components of the intracellular cell-signalling pathways including
regulation of apoptosis and cell survival, tumour switches involved with kinases,
and transcription factors and their regulators. Evidence indicates that stilbene derivatives target Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) to inhibit platelet-derived
growth factor receptor nitrogenic signalling (Venkatesan et al. 2008). Resveratrol
mediates its effects through modulation of many different pathways by binding to
numerous cell-signalling molecules (Harikumar and Aggarwal 2008). It activates
various transcription factors.
17.10 Other Biological Effects of Resveratrol
Resveratrol reduces nuclear DNA fragmentation (Burkhardt et al. 2001). Reports
indicate that resveratrol can act as an anti-mutagenic/anti-carcinogenic agent by
preventing DNA damage. Resveratrol blocks the expression of genes related to the
NFκB family (Leiro et al. 2005). Through its phycoestrogenic properties resveratrol
regulates hormone-dependent genes in breast cells and provides a protective effect
17 Stilbenes and Their Derivatives in Traditional Medicine