Our Commercial Technical Director, Ernesto Simon, attended a lecture on resveratrol yesterday at Roskilde University in Denmark. The lecture was given by Professor John Pezzuto from Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York.
Below is an Abstract and some slides from the lecture, including the origin of the word resveratrol.
Abstract
The Life and Times of Resveratrol
John M. Pezzuto, Long Island University, Brooklyn, New York
Resveratrol (3,4′,5-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) was first isolated in 1939 by Takaoka from Veratrum grandiflorum O. Loes (root of the white hellebore). It can be speculated the trivial name resveratrol was created as a conjunction based on its chemical structure and the plant source used for isolation: a resorcinol derivative or polyphenol in resin, occurring in Veratrum species, and containing hydroxyl groups (ol). Subsequently, sporadic reports appeared in the literature, most of which were descriptive in nature. However, spurred by our seminal paper published early in 1997, resveratrol became a household word and the subject of intensive investigation. Now, in addition to being the focus of over 18,000 research papers and hundreds of review articles, resveratrol has inspired monographs, conferences, symposia, patents, etc. In addition, several commercial products marketed under various tradenames are available.
Once resveratrol was brought to the limelight, early research tended to focus on pharmacological activities related to the cardiovascular system, inflammation, and carcinogenesis/cancer development. More recently, the horizon has greatly expanded. Resveratrol has been reported to mediate a vast array of unpredictable biological responses, including effects on the aging process, diabetes, neurological dysfunction, etc.
Of course, some controversy has been generated, as is the case with any substance receiving such colossal attention. For example, some discrepancies exist between in vivo studies with animals and clinical investigations, or between clinical studies. This is likely due to factors such as disparate doses, varying experimental settings, and subject variation. Nevertheless, since an incredible array of positive responses has been demonstrated with mammals, it is reasonable to advocate for the conduct of additional clinical investigations. Further, since the safety profile is pristine, an added advantage is the use of resveratrol as a dietary supplement.
The ultimate fate of resveratrol remains an open question, but thus far the compound has clearly inspired innovative scientific concepts, and enhanced public awareness of preventative health care. This is quite phenomenal considering the structural simplicity of the molecule as well as common occurrence in the diet of humans, particularly as a result of grape consumption.
Some photos from the Lecture: