Resveratrol And Stroke: What You Need To Know

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenol found in grapes and berries. It has been shown to have neuroprotective effects in ischemic stroke. It can be administered before or after a stroke to reduce brain injury, preserve endothelial cells, and protect the blood-brain barrier. It also has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-apoptotic effects. Resveratrol can be administered orally, intravenously, or intraperitoneally.

Anti-inflammatory effects

Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects. It can positively impact brain and heart health by providing a protective lining for your blood vessels and preventing injury. It can also reduce blood clotting and improve endothelial function.

Resveratrol has been shown to have a positive effect on blood fats, increasing "good" HDL cholesterol and reducing "bad" LDL cholesterol. It can also increase insulin sensitivity and prevent complications from diabetes.

Resveratrol has been shown to protect the brain by interfering with protein fragments called beta-amyloids, which are crucial to forming the plaques that are a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. It can also reduce signs of activated astrocytes, reactive nitrogen species, and microglia/macrophage activation, which are all signs of inflammation.

Resveratrol may also suppress cancer cells by inhibiting cancer cell growth, changing gene expression, and interfering with the way certain hormones are expressed.

Anti-apoptotic effects

Resveratrol is a natural antioxidant that has been shown to have anti-apoptotic effects. It can induce a neuroprotective state when administered acutely or prior to experimental injury to the CNS.

Resveratrol has been shown to induce a neuroprotective state via several disparate pathways. The exact mechanism of resveratrol-mediated neuroprotection is not yet understood, but the downstream anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effectors have been well documented.

Resveratrol treatment was shown to prevent or slow down many of the pathological changes and its neuroprotective actions seem to be mediated by many putative effectors and targets.

Resveratrol treatment was shown to prevent autophagic cell death by decreasing GSK-3β activation after controlled cortical impact-induced TBI in adult rats. The proposed mechanism for this action of resveratrol was suggested to be prevention of ROS formation, however this was not substantiated by any demonstration of Akt-independent GSK-3β inhibition.

Resveratrol has also been shown to decrease apoptosis in an animal model of SAH. After deposition of autologous blood in the rat subarachnoid space, intravenous resveratrol injection was shown to increase p-Akt levels, concomitantly decreasing caspase-3 levels, and leading to prevention of neuronal apoptosis. This study also showed attenuation of the anti-apoptotic effects of resveratrol with a PI3K inhibitor, further supporting the importance of the PI3K/Akt pathway in resveratrol-mediated neuroprotection.

Resveratrol was also shown to have an anti-apoptotic effect by improving Bcl2/Bax ratio and preventing caspase-3 activation leading to decreased number of TUNEL-positive neurons and improved cellular ultrastructure after SCI in adult rats.

Anti-oxidative effects

Resveratrol is a well-known polyphenolic compound found in various plants, including grapes, peanuts, and berries. It is famous for its association with several health benefits, including anti-obesity, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, antitumor, antidiabetic, antioxidant, and anti-ageing effects. Resveratrol's antioxidant property is the most well-described attribute to its diverse health benefits.

Resveratrol has been shown to have a positive effect on blood fats. Several studies in animals have suggested that resveratrol supplements may change blood fats in a healthy way. A 2016 study found that mice fed a high-protein, high-polyunsaturated fat diet and given resveratrol supplements had lower average total cholesterol levels and body weight, and higher levels of "good" HDL cholesterol. Resveratrol seems to influence cholesterol levels by reducing the effect of an enzyme that controls cholesterol production.

Resveratrol also has anti-inflammatory properties. It was found to decrease inflammatory burden by reducing microglial activation in in vivo and in vitro models of ischemic stroke. Resveratrol has also been shown to reduce edema and prevent the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, resveratrol alleviates inflammation by decreasing ROS levels, which are known to activate immune cells.

Resveratrol treatment was shown to induce PGC-1α, which has innate properties as a free radical scavenger. PGC-1α was shown to modulate the mitochondrial anti-oxidant enzymes SOD2, thioredoxin, and glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1) and thus mitigates oxidative stress. PGC-1α was also thought to ameliorate oxidative burden by increasing mitochondrial function and minimizing ROS buildup via organelle biogenesis.

Resveratrol treatment was also shown to induce HO-1, which is implicated as a major effector of resveratrol-mediated neuroprotection after post-ischemic reperfusion. HO-1 expression was induced in cultured mouse cortical neurons, and its induction was shown to protect against H2O2 exposure in PC12 cells.

Resveratrol treatment was shown to decrease lipid peroxidation and preserve mitochondrial integrity after spinal cord ischemia in rabbits. Another study of resveratrol in rat SCI also showed increased GSH levels, decreased MDA and nitric oxide (NO) levels, and xanthine oxidase (XO) activity.

Resveratrol was reported to upregulate SOD activity in a weight-drop model of rat SCI, leading to decreased lipid peroxidation. Resveratrol treatment was also shown to increase nuclear levels of the anti-oxidant transcription factor Nrf2, leading to decreased oxidative stress and reduced mitochondrial protein oxidation following spinal cord ischemia in rodents.

Edema reducing effects

Resveratrol is a natural antioxidant found in foods such as berries, nuts, and grape skins. It has been shown to have a neuroprotective effect, reducing brain damage and inflammation caused by ischemic stroke. Resveratrol also has anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects, and can protect endothelial cells against oxygen and glucose deprivation.

Resveratrol has been shown to reduce edema, which is the accumulation of fluid in the brain, following recurrent stroke. This is achieved by reducing the permeability of the blood-brain barrier and preventing the leakage of Evans Blue dye into the brain. Resveratrol also prevents an increase in brain water content, which is a measure of edema.

Effects on blood pressure and cerebral blood flow

Resveratrol is a plant compound with antioxidant properties found in red wine, grapes, berries, and peanuts. It has been linked to various health benefits, including reduced blood pressure and improved cerebral blood flow.

Effects on Blood Pressure

Resveratrol has been found to lower blood pressure by increasing the production of nitric oxide, which causes blood vessels to relax. A 2015 review concluded that high doses of resveratrol may help reduce systolic blood pressure, the pressure exerted on artery walls when the heart beats. Resveratrol may also help lower diastolic blood pressure, as seen in a study where patients were given a daily oral dose of resveratrol for 12 months.

Effects on Cerebral Blood Flow

Resveratrol has been shown to increase cerebral blood flow during task performance in healthy human adults. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover investigation found that single doses of orally administered resveratrol can modulate cerebral blood flow variables. Additionally, resveratrol has been found to protect the brain by interfering with protein fragments called beta-amyloids, which are crucial to forming the plaques that are a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.

Frequently asked questions