What is resveratrol?

Resveratrol is an antioxidant. It was first identified in 1940 in the roots of hellebore. Resveratrol is found in more than seventy plants species, primarily in peanuts, blueberries, dark chocolate and other products.

Resveratrol is also widely known as a component of wine, particularly red wine. Resveratrol occurs naturally in two forms: cis-resveratrol and trans-resveratrol. Trans-resveratrol is much more bioactive and clinically beneficial than cis-resveratrol.

Resveratrol has an anticoagulant effect that prevents the formation of blood clots that may block blood vessel and cause heart attacks and stroke. In 1997 research showed that resveratrol exits anticancer effects by reducing tumor mass in rats. Scientists demonstrated that resveratrol is effective in blocking in vivo the three stages of: carcinogenesis, initiation, promotion and progression.

Resveratrol may help prevent age-related disorders such as neurodegenerative disease, inflammation, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
What is resveratrol?

Blueberries can help to fight cancer

Blueberries are a sweet, succulent fruit grown in many parts of the world. They are rich in phytochemicals called flavonoids. Flavonoids such as anthocyanin found in blueberries have a different chemical structure compared to other common antioxidants such as vitamin C which makes them three to four times more potent.

Antioxidants neutralize the effect of ‘free radicals’ which are unstable molecules that can attack human cells and damage their DNA.

Study published in 2007 in Clinical Cancer Research conducted by Rutgers University and USDA found that pterostilbene, a compound present in blueberries is of great interest for the prevention of colon cancer. Pterostilbene (trans-3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxystilbene) is a natural dietary compound and the primary antioxidant component of blueberries.

The pigments in blueberries are powerful antioxidants. The pigment provides the characteristics color of blueberries. They have been determined to be a much-heralded chemical warrior against heart disease and also cancer. The antioxidant fight cancer is primarily located in the blue pigment in the berry.

The antioxidants in blueberries also may protect against disease like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative disease.

In addition to their powerful anthocyanins, blueberries contain another antioxidant compound called ellagic acid, which blocks metabolic pathways that can lead to cancer.
Blueberries can help to fight cancer

Lignans in blueberry

Lignans are fairly widespread throughout the plant kingdom. They have been reported in blueberry and also other berries such as strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, cloudberry cranberry and lingonberry.

The lignans form a group of plant phenols whose structure in s determined by the union of two cinnamic acid residues or year biogenic equivalent. There are hundreds of different lignans each differing in degree of oxidation, cyclization or derivatization.

Lignans are related closely to intermediates in the biosynthesis of lignin and probably are formed from analogous pathways.

The lignans play an important part in the defence mechanism of many plant species, against pathogens and predators. Various roles in chemical defence, such as fungicidal, bactericidal and insecticidal have been reported.

Blueberry may help prevent Alzheimer's disease. In one study by Dutch researchers found that those who consumed at least one milligram of lignans per day had 49 % better memory scores.

The researchers said that natural substances in blueberry help block the action of damaging free radicals on brain tissues.

At least 40 lignans known to have antitumor and antiviral activity and many are cytotoxic.
Lignans in blueberry

Blueberry and cancer

The blueberry is becoming widely recognized for its health benefits. Blubbery is one of the richest source of anthocyanins that are antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Inflammation and Parkinson stress are involved in virtually every major killer disease: Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes and heart disease.

There is a very strong evidence that the consumption of anthocyanins reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer and other problems related to aging.

Berry anthocyanins anti-carcinogenic properties appear to stem from their ability to affect multiple mechanisms, including inhibition of cancer promoted enzyme and blocking of activation of cancer growth. 

Blueberry phytochemicals inhibit growth and metastatic potential of breast cancer through modulation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway.

Blueberry also found to inhibit colon cancer cell proliferation and induce cell death. It reduce androgen-dependent growth in prostate cancer cells.

To date anticancer mechanisms suggested for blueberry phytochemicals include:
*Induction of enzymes involved in the detoxification of carcinogens
*Promotion of programmed cell death
*Inhibition of enzymes involved in metastasis

A University of Illinois study, found that wild blueberry showed the greatest anticancer activity.
Blueberry and cancer