title: Resveratrol and cardiovascular health--promising therapeutic or hopeless illusion?
abstract: Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is a natural polyphenolic compound that exists in Polygonum cuspidatum, grapes, peanuts and berries, as well as their manufactured products, especially red wine. Resveratrol is a pharmacologically active compound that interacts with multiple targets in a variety of cardiovascular disease models to exert protective effects or induce a reduction in cardiovascular risks parameters. This review attempts to primarily serve to summarize the current research findings regarding the putative cardioprotective effects of resveratrol and the molecular pathways underlying these effects. One intent is to hopefully provide a relatively comprehensive resource for clues that may prompt ideas for additional mechanistic studies which might further elucidate and strengthen the role of the stilbene family of compounds in cardiovascular disease and cardioprotection. Model systems that incorporate a significant functional association with tissues outside of the cardiovascular system proper, such as adipose (cell culture, obesity models) and pancreatic (diabetes) tissues, were reviewed, and the molecular pathways and/or targets related to these models and influenced by resveratrol are discussed. Because the body of work encompassing the stilbenes and other phytochemicals in the context of longevity and the ability to presumably mitigate a plethora of afflictions is replete with conflicting information and controversy, especially so with respect to the human response, we tried to remain as neutral as possible in compiling and presenting the more current data with minimal commentary, permitting the reader free reign to extract the knowledge most helpful to their own investigations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Philip Chiu-Tsun
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Molecular Pharmacology, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Yam-Fung
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Life Sciences Multimedia Productions, Drexel Hill, PA, USA. Electronic address: mgyda@lifesciencesmultimedia.com.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gyda
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Molecular Pharmacology, Shenzhen, China; Food Safety and Technology Research Centre, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: bcswchan@polyu.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Shun-Wan
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D000077185:Resveratrol; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D013267:Stilbenes; D000077185:Resveratrol
keywords: Caloric restriction; Cardioprotection; Cardiovascular health; Grapes; Longevity; Polygonum cuspidatum; Polyphenolic; Red wine; Resveratrol; SIRT1; Sirtuins; Stilbene