New enlightenment of French Paradox: resveratrol's potential for cancer chemoprevention and anti-cancer therapy.
Resveratrol is a phytoalexin produced by many plants, and the skin of red grapes is particularly rich in resveratrol which accounts for the "French Paradox". Besides its protection of the cardiovascular system, it can affect the processes underlying all three stages of carcinogenesis, involving tumor initiation, promotion and progression. It has also been shown to suppress angiogenesis and metastasis. The anti-carcinogenic effects of resveratrol appear to be closely associated with its capacity to interact with multiple molecular targets involved in cancer development, while minimizing toxicity in normal tissues as tested. By reviewing many in vitro and in vivo studies, also considering both the supporting and challenging evidences, we are provided with a theory in support of the use of resveratrol in human cancer chemoprevention, in combination with either chemotherapeutic drugs or cytotoxic factors for the highly efficient treatment of drug refractory tumor cells. Anti-carcinogenic potential for cancer chemoprevention and anticancer therapy, which is one of the pleiotropic effects of resveratrol, is so called a new enlightenment of French Paradox.
Liu
Bo-lin
BL
Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, PR China.
Zhang
Xiang
X
Zhang
Wei
W
Zhen
Hai-ning
HN
D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004032:Diet; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D051379:Mice; D008805:Mice, Inbred A; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000077185:Resveratrol; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014920:Wine
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D013267:Stilbenes; D000077185:Resveratrol