Resveratrol: From Basic Science to the Clinic

• Published in: Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex.) Vol. 6; no. 20; pp. 2495 - 2510
• Main Authors: Cucciolla, Valeria, Borriello, Adriana, Oliva, Adriana, Galletti, Patrizia, Zappia, Vincenzo, Ragione, Fulvio Della
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 15-10-2007
• Subjects: Animals; Binding; Biology; Biomedical Research; Bioscience; Calcium; Cancer; Cell; Cellular Senescence - drug effects; Cycle; Humans; Landes; NF-kappa B - metabolism; Organogenesis; Plants - chemistry; Proteins; Sesquiterpenes; Stilbenes - chemistry; Stilbenes - pharmacology; Terpenes - chemistry; Terpenes - pharmacology
• ISSN: 1538-4101; 1551-4005
• DOI: 10.4161/cc.6.20.4815

Plants produce an extraordinary array of low-molecular-mass natural products endowed with biological activity. Among these molecules, resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene) has been identified as an inhibitor of carcinogenesis with a pleiotropic mode of action. Extensive Literature on its anticancer activity, performed in cellular models, suggests a potential antiproliferative and apoptogenic use of the stilbene. Similarly, studies on implanted cancers and chemical-induced tumors confirm a potential chemotherapeutical interest of the compound. Moreover, recent intriguing studies have demonstrated, in mice, that the negative effects (insulin resistance and hyperglycemia) of a high-fat diet might be prevented by resveratrol treatment. Despite these promising observations, only few clinical trials have been performed on the compound due to the scarce interest of pharmaceutical industry. We suggest that resveratrol might be considered an interesting compound in association with more specific target-oriented drugs.