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Resveratrol

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Cancer

  • 117 Accesses

Synonyms

3,4′,5-trihydroxystilbene

Definition

Resveratrol is a natural molecule belonging to the class of non-flavonoid polyphenols. It exists as trans- or cis-isomers, both of which are present in nature, although the trans-isomer is by far the most abundant and commonly cited simply as resveratrol.

Characteristics

Resveratrol was first identified in 1940 in the roots of hellebore, then found to be present in grapevines in 1976 and in wine in 1992. Now it is known to be present in minor amounts in other nutritional sources, such as peanuts, blueberries, and mulberries. In grape skin, where it is highly concentrated (50–100 mg/g), resveratrol is primarily biosynthesized in response to environmental stresses, such as UV radiation, ozone exposure, low temperature, injury, or fungal infections (mainly by Botrytis cinerea). In wine, its concentration ranges from 0.7 to 7.7 mg/L, depending on cultivar, climate, and stress agents, red wines being approximately tenfold more enriched than...

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References

  • Baar JA, Sinclair DA (2006) Therapeutic potential of resveratrol: the in vivo evidence. Nat Rev Drug Discov 5:493–506

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  • Jang M, Cai L, Udeani GO et al (1997) Cancer chemopreventive activity of resveratrol, a natural product derived from grapes. Science 275:218–220

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  • Langkake P, Pryce RJ (1976) The production of resveratrol by Vitis vinifera and other members of the Vitacea as a response to infection or injury. Physiol Plant Pathol 9:77–86

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  • Signorelli P, Ghidoni R (2005) Resveratrol as an anticancer nutrient: molecular basis, open questions and promises. J Nutr Biochem 16:449–466

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See Also

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, San Paolo Medical School, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Riccardo Ghidoni

Authors
  1. Riccardo Ghidoni
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Correspondence to Riccardo Ghidoni .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Abt. Tumorgenetik, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany

    Manfred Schwab

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Ghidoni, R. (2015). Resveratrol. In: Schwab, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_5064-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_5064-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27841-9

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