Resveratrol as an Antioxidant
Antioxidants are substances that are capable of counteracting the damaging effects of the physiological process known as oxidation in human tissue. Oxidative stress is caused by highly reactive molecules called free radicals that contain an unpaired electron and are therefore unstable. Free radicals can damage cellular membranes, mitochondria (energy centers), proteins, and even DNA. Oxidative damage is also associated with aging, illness, and even cancer. Antioxidants, such as resveratrol, help to neutralize these free radicals so that they cannot do any further damages to the cells in the body.
Scientists believe that in finding resveratrol they may have discovered one of the most powerful antioxidants known to man today. Resveratrol gets its antioxidant free radical fighting properties from red wine, grapes, peanuts and several other plants and foods.
There have been numerous studies done in the past 20 years that is giving more and more proof to the antioxidant abilities of the new wonder drug resveratrol.
- Researchers at the University of Illinois discovered during the 1990s how resveratrol was beneficial to cardiovascular health – an initial claim to its antioxidant and free radical fighting capabilities. Studies then conducted in 2000 indicated that the resveratrol contained in red wine lowered the risk of cardiovascular disease and heart attack – further evidence to its antioxidant and free radical fighting ability.
- More recently, Chinese researchers gave resveratrol to mice injected with genes that promote Alzheimer plaques, causing heightened mental response and performance from the rodents used in the antioxidant, free radical fighting experiment.
- In another antioxidant, free radical fighting experiment conducted by Harvard researchers, resveratrol was added to the diets of obese mice, causing them to live 31 percent longer than a control group not given the resveratrol antioxidant free radical fighting compound.
- In November 2006, French studies demonstrated that adding resveratrol to the diet of rodents increased the rodent’s endurance level by 100 percent.

