The naturally occurring polyphenolic compound that may be found in plants like Polygonum cuspidatum, grapes, and peanuts has emerged as the new trend in the health industry.
With the expansion of the health care industry, natural active ingredients have become a major area of scientific research and market interest. Since the time when it was first isolated from Veratrum grandiflorum by Japanese scientists in 1940, resveratrol, as a natural polyphenolic compound, has gradually emerged as a major research object in scientific studies and the development of health products.
Researchers discovered in 1992 that resveratrol present in wine may be the basic cause of the French Paradox. This is the phenomenon where the French have a low level of heart-related diseases although they eat a diet that is high in fat.
Research continues to demonstrate that resveratrol has anti-aging, anti-oxidant, anti-tumor, and other health benefits. This makes it a very common health product.
Resveratrol is a phytoalexin that has scientific value. It is also known as a characteristic source.
Resveratrol is a non-flavonoid polyphenol with the chemical name 3,4',5-trihydroxy-stilbene, and the chemical formula of C14H12O3. It is a phytoalexin produced by plants when they are exposed to stress or when they are infected with pathogens in their growth cycle, and it serves as a self-protection mechanism of the plant.
Resveratrol is present naturally in more than seventy species of plants that belong to twenty-one families of plants. The main sources of resveratrol are grapes, peanuts, mulberries and Polygonum cuspidatum. The plant with the greatest quantity of resveratrol is Polygonum cuspidatum and the portions that contain the greatest quantity of resveratrol are the roots and rhizomes. The main form of resveratrol occurring in the roots and rhizomes of this plant is polydatin.
The resveratrol content in plants differs depending on various factors. The skin of grapes is much richer in resveratrol than the flesh of the grape, therefore red wine contains more of this compound than white wine. There are high variations in resveratrol levels between grape varieties.
There exist two forms of Resveratrol: cis and trans, and the trans form is much more bioactive as compared to the cis one. It is not very soluble in water but readily dissolves in organic solvents such as methanol, ethanol and acetone. These characteristics influence the manner in which it is removed and the amount that is absorbed in the body.
Resveratrol is photosensitive; when exposed to ultraviolet radiation, the trans isomer can be converted to the cis isomer, which leads to a loss of activity. It is therefore essential to protect from light during the extraction, storage and use of resveratrol to maintain its activity. Multidimensional Physiological Activities: Performance and Mechanisms of Resveratrol
Resveratrol has multiple biological effects, and its main effects are antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and cardiovascular protective effects.
Anti-aging and Antioxidant Mechanisms
Resveratrol possesses antioxidant characteristics that help the body get rid of free radicals and prevent damage to the cells which is induced by oxidative stress. The antioxidant activity of resveratrol is attributed to its direct scavenging activity of free radicals and its capacity to enhance antioxidant enzymes. The study indicates that in antiaging, resveratrol is a Sirtuins activator, and Sirtuins are proteins that have a good association with the aging and metabolic processes in the body. Scientists in Pisa, Italy, discovered that when resveratrol was added at the correct quantity, the life span of the experimental fish increased between 27% and 50%.
According to recent research, resveratrol has considerable skin anti-aging effects. In a study of 132 women aged 40 or above, the wrinkle scores were reduced and the sebum levels were increased after eight weeks of combined topical and oral resveratrol treatment. This increase in sebum levels helped alleviate dryness of the skin.
Cardiovascular Protective Effects
Several studies have been used to confirm the cardiovascular protective effects of resveratrol. It inhibits atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease through numerous biochemical pathways.
They work in the following ways: control of blood fat, prevention of the sticking together of platelets, enhancement of blood clot breakdown, prevention of blood clots, protection of blood vessels and smooth muscle, and so on. Endothelin-1 action can also be blocked by resveratrol and it inhibits the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein.
The Chinese medicine uses Polygonum cuspidatum, a source of resveratrol, to cure and prevent elevated cholesterol and hardening of arteries. Research has demonstrated that resveratrol, when in normal quantities causes the blood vessels to dilate, which reduces the blood pressure and the probability of heart disease. Resveratrol is a natural compound that prevents cancer. It is anti-cancer against all three stages of tumorigenesis-initiator, promoter and progression.
The anti-cancer properties of resveratrol are associated with minimizing the production of free radicals and blocking cyclooxygenase (COX) and catalase enzymes, and blocking the growth of cancer cells, and inducing the differentiation of cancer cells and cell death. Moreover, resveratrol is also a tyrosine protein kinase inhibitor that has a high inhibitory effect against several malignant tumor cells such as breast, stomach, colon and prostate cancer cells.
In 1997, Science published "A Natural Product from Grapes..."
Challenges and Strategies of Bioavailability
Resveratrol is vulnerable to phase II metabolism. It metabolizes glucuronide and sulfate conjugates as it is rapidly degraded in the body. Scientists have come up with different methods to increase the bioavailability of resveratrol.
Synergistic Administration: This effect is achieved by the combination of the two elements. According to research, when taken with piperine, quercetin, and others, resveratrol is able to inhibit the activity of metabolic enzymes, which renders resveratrol more available. As an instance, piperine has a considerable effect on the pharmacokinetic parameters of the resveratrol and raises its highest plasma concentration (Cmax) by a percentage of 1544%.
Acetyl-or Ether Advance Preparation: This proceeds similarly by the processing of Resveratrol with acetyl or Ether groups to develop advance drugs. It is resistant to Sulfation and Glucuronidation thus gaining additional access to the body. Acetylated resveratrol remains more time within an organism whose period of life increases from 118 minutes to 394.7 minutes.
Development in Drug Formulation: This field has also made very good progress. Resveratrol can be made much more soluble in water and more stable through technologies like cyclodextrin inclusion and self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS). SEDDS are able to bolster the solubility of resveratrol by 23 times and this results in an increase of bioavailability.
Extraction Process Innovation: Resveratrol extraction techniques have evolved from traditional techniques of extraction to modern extraction techniques which continuously improve the effectiveness of extraction and purity levels of extracted products. The extracts were obtained by dissolving them in the solvent, which was methanol, or ethanol, or acetone, or ethyl acetate. This method requires simple apparatus and yields a large quantity of products, but it is costly, and it introduces a large quantity of undesired substances.
Ultrasonic Extraction - It relies on the mechanical vibration of ultrasound and cavitation to disrupt the plant cells and to accelerate the release of active compounds. The advantages it provides are the higher extraction rate, reduced duration, and reduced temperature.
A natural product extraction that is becoming popular is Enzymatic Hydrolysis. Enzymatic activity loosens and breaks cell walls, thus reducing mass transfer resistance and speeding up the release of resveratrol. According to research, the rate of extraction of resveratrol using enzymatic hydrolysis can be increased to 0.82% compared to the conventional method of extraction at 0.5%.
Microwave-Assisted Extraction is a solvent extraction process that is enhanced by the use of microwave radiation. It is quick, highly efficient, saving solvent usage and environmentally friendly. Studies indicate optimal parameters: extraction time 210 seconds, microwave power 480W, solid-liquid ratio 1:20, ethanol concentration 70%.
Optimization Technologies: During the last couple of years, such optimization techniques as the response surface methodology have been used to enhance resveratrol extraction. The research established the most effective conditions of extraction of peanut sprouts: sample to ethanol ratio of 1:14.86, extraction temperature of 550C, extraction time of 2.03 hours, with an extraction rate of up to 45.63mg/g. Future advancements will enhance resveratrol extraction and purification technology due to advances in biotechnology. The implementation of new technologies like supercritical fluid extraction and enzyme engineering will enhance product quality and decrease production expenses.
The resveratrol field of applications will remain to be expanded. Resveratrol has a wide range of applications in the field of anti-aging, cardiovascular disease therapy, among others, beyond the health product market of the past. It is likely to be a significant section of functional foods and cosmetics, as well as the pharmaceutical industry in the future. However, the resveratrol business is now confronted with issues. Presently, most of the research concerning resveratrol is conducted in vitro and animal experiments, and other more thorough experiments should be conducted to determine how it is used in humans. Individuals may respond differently to the resveratrol depending on the population that is being observed, and certain populations should be used with caution.
It is a crucial period in the growth of the resveratrol industry in China within the next five years. The use of resveratrol in medicine and health products and cosmetics and other fields will continue to expand due to the increased health awareness of consumers and the ongoing technological advancement.
Policy support provides a high level of assurance towards the growth of the resveratrol industry. The Chinese government has implemented multiple health industry growth policies over the past few years which include natural plant extract industry support measures to establish an industrial development-friendly environment.
Due to the development of genetic engineering technology, in the future, resveratrol can be made not only by total extraction from plants. Microbial fermentation allows scientists to achieve a direct conversion of glucose to resveratrol, and the method has a large source of raw materials and low production conditions such that it is the next step of production. Bioavailability is one of the essential elements that affect the effectiveness of resveratrol products that consumers need to consider when selecting them. To get the maximum health benefits of resveratrol, it is advisable to use products that are processed with advanced technologies such as cyclodextrin inclusion, self-emulsification, or nanotechnology, seek professional medical advice, and live a healthy lifestyle.