Worldwide in the northern hemisphere, September and October are months of the annual grape harvest.
According to the United Nations, grapes are among the top 5 fruits consumed in the world (by total acreage and harvest volume) -- the others are apples, oranges, bananas, and mangoes.
But is there any fruit finding more applications for human consumption than the red grape? Fresh, dried as raisins, juices, flavors, fragrances, extracts, supplements, seed oil and wine.
For centuries, grapes have been favored in this variety of formats more extensively than any other fruit.
Resveratrol, usually associated with the skins and seeds of red grapes (but also found in the skins of other dark berries, like blackcurrants, blueberries and strawberries, and in peanut skins), is easily the most advanced phytochemical in medical research and the closest among plant food compounds under intensive review for approval as a health ingredient.
It has not yet satisfied all the required criteria to be confirmed as influential on human diseases but there are many promising -- even exciting -- developments for lowering risk against
What is Resveratrol's Mechanism of Action?
Resveratrol mimics the action of a protein family called sirtuins thought to be involved in cell regulation, metabolic activity and
other processes such as stress response mechanisms, gene expression, and organism lifecycle.
Resveratrol and sirtuins have potential importance for reducing the symptoms or risk of
Muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia), rich in resveratrol
2009 Resveratrol Series by NutraIngredients.com
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Key comment: "... studies in nematode worms, fruit flies, fish, and mice have linked resveratrol to longer lives. Other studies with only resveratrol have reported anti-cancer effects, anti-inflammatory effects, cardiovascular benefits, anti-diabetes potential, energy endurance enhancement, and protection against Alzheimer’s."
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Key comment: "The key applications are supplements and cosmetics. Presently, there are a number of clinical trial underway for the development of drugs based on resveratrol. Resveratrol is being considered for its diabetes, ant-aging, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties."
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Key comment: "...attributing the French Paradox solely to resveratrol is a separate issue, and questions over the dosages used to achieve the benefits appear to put this link in doubt."
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Key comment: "Resveratrol is naturally found in grapes and red wine, mulberries, peanuts and 'knotweed' (Polygonum cuspidatum)."
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Key comment: "The Food and Drug Administration has warned a Georgia-based supplements manufacturer to stop making drug claims about one of its resveratrol products. The FDA told Natural Biology its resveratrol products were being marketed as a cure and therefore violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act which controls such claims."
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Key comment: "...there are signs that the market remains underdeveloped, with consumer awareness still low. Even a scan of market reports from the major market analysts revealed very little published data on the ingredient.
The peak year for launches was 2007, which recorded 24 new products, compared to nine in 2006 and eight in 2005. In 2008 launches dipped to 18; in 2009 to date there have been 16 new product introductions.
“Looking at these numbers, it appears that resveratrol became more common mid-decade, though products containing the substance still tend to be uncommon. This would suggest that consumer awareness of resveratrol is still quite low."
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