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Washington, July 30 (ANI):
A popular plant extract, called resveratrol, can suppress inflammation in
humans, according to a new study.

The extract is already
known to prolong life in yeast and lower animals due to its anti-inflammatory
and antioxidant properties.

Resveratrol is produced
naturally by several plants when under attack by pathogens such as bacteria or
fungi, and is found in the skin of red grapes and red wine.

It can be made
artificially by chemical synthesis derived primarily from Japanese knotweed and
is sold as a nutritional supplement.

Husam Ghanim, PhD, UB
research assistant professor of medicine also said that the compound could help
insulin resistance as well, a condition related to oxidative stress.

The results of the trial
showed that resveratrol suppressed the generation of free radicals, or reactive
oxygen species, unstable molecules known to cause oxidative stress and release
proinflammatory factors into the blood stream, resulting in damage to the blood
vessel lining.

The trial blood samples
also showed suppression of the inflammatory protein tumor necrosis factor (TNF)
and other similar compounds that increase inflammation in blood vessels and
interfere with insulin action, causing insulin resistance and the risk of
developing diabetes.

However, it is possible
that something else other than resveratrol caused these changes.

“The product we used
has only 20 percent resveratrol, so it is possible that something else in the
preparation is responsible for the positive effects,” said Paresh Dandona, MD,
PhD, UB distinguished professor of medicine and senior author on the study.

Results of the study appear on the Journal of
Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism website. (ANI)