title: Resveratrol: challenges in analyzing its biological effects.
abstract: Testing the biological activities of a dietary compound like resveratrol presents various challenges, which are highlighted in this commentary, with some suggested direction for future research, focusing on five challenges: (1) many different cellular effects are observed for resveratrol, but it is not known whether they arise from one point of action (or a few) or whether resveratrol is non-specific in its action; (2) the health-promotion effect of dietary resveratrol is likely a combinatory effect of various bioactive components in the mixture (diet); (3) the known cell biological response to resveratrol is presently based on exposure to short-term high levels, and better in vitro analyses have to be developed; (4) the actual level of resveratrol and resveratrol metabolites present in vitro and in vivo during experiments may be over- and underestimated, respectively, because resveratrol is not very soluble in water; and (5) only a few small clinical studies have been published to date, focusing on the therapeutic effects of resveratrol. Further, clinical trials addressing the disease-preventive effects are especially challenging.
authors: Department of Science, Systems and Models, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark.
authors: Ole
authors: O
authors: Vang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006801:Humans; D000077185:Resveratrol; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D013267:Stilbenes; D000077185:Resveratrol
keywords: biological targets; clinical trial; combinatory effect; resveratrol