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Resveratrol Topical Cream - 2 oz
Resveratrol is a plant-derived, polyphenolic (polyphenols are responsible for the coloring of some plants) organic compound most commonly present in the skin and seeds of red grapes. Present in wine (mostly red, some white) and in grape juice, it is also present in raspberries, cranberries, blueberries and some lesser-known berries, in peanuts, in certain types of pine trees, and in a few other plants. In plants, resveratrol functions as a phytoalexin, a substance produced by plants that can inhibit the growth of infecting fungi or other pathogens. Although resveratrol may be best known as a substance present in grapes and wine, there are two interesting facts regarding resveratrol sources: First, the compound was originally discovered in a legume (Cassia species) back in the 1970s. Secondly, on an ounce-for-ounce basis, peanuts contain approximately half as much resveratrol as the amounts present in red wine, which makes peanuts a good alternative to wine as a source of the substance for non-drinkers and children. Although sold commercially as a nutritional supplement in capsule or powdered form, resveratrol is not at all necessary for proper nutrition. It is more appropriate to consider resveratrol to be a nutraceutical. Resveratrol is metabolized and excreted fairly rapidly after oral ingestion, prompting concerns regarding its bioavailability - its ability to get into the body's cells and exert its biological effects. So why is there currently high interest in resveratrol? Because of the rapidly growing body of research that has linked resveratrol to a variety of health benefits. The most publicized potential health benefits of resveratrol are in the anti-aging and life extension area. Resveratrol's ability to increase the lifespans of certain organisms has become one of those "believe-it-or-not" scientific discoveries: In 2003, Harvard biologist David Sinclair reported that resveratrol prolonged the lifespan of a common yeast. Subsequent studies have found that the compound extends the lifespan of other organisms, including nematodes, fruit flies and a type of fish. Italian researcher D. R. Valenzano and colleagues who performed the fish studies observed beneficial improvements in swimming and learning abilities, among other parameters. These results prompted Valenzano etal to state that resveratrol supplementation "...prolongs lifespan and retards the expression of age-dependent traits" in this short-lived vertebrate model of aging (Current Biology, volume 16, pages 286-300, 2006). Okay, not impressed by resveratrol's effects in yeast, worms, flies or fish? How about mammals then? Sinclair and colleagues recently reported that resveratrol improved the health and survival of mice fed a high-calorie diet, with lifespans being increased about 15 percent in mice fed the resveratrol-supplemented diet (Nature 444:337-342, 2006). The mechanism(s) by which resveratrol appears to exert its life-extending and anti-aging effects are still being investigated, but much research has focused on signaling molecules and/or biochemical pathways that imitate caloric restriction, a known means of extending lifespans. One proposed mechanism of action involves resveratrol's ability to activate sirtuins, a family of enzymes involved in calorie-reducing stress and metabolic responses. Another possibility is the inhibition of fat-degrading enzymes known as lipases that in turn could lead to decreased fat absorption in the intestinal tract. The other "hot" findings for resveratrol have to do with endurance, which may also have implications for the treatment of certain metabolic diseases as well as enhanced athletic performance. French researcher Johan Auwerx and colleagues tested resveratrol for its effects on energy metabolism and mitochondrial function in mice. (The mitochondria are the "powerhouses" of the body's cells). They found that the mice treated with resveratrol had improved exercise abilities and oxygen utilization These improvements were related to an increase in the activity of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator (PGC)-1alpha, a protein known to be involved in energy metabolism (Cell 127:1109-1122, 2006). As PGC-1 activity can be increased by activation of sirtuin protein SIRT1, this research provides further evidence that sirtuin activation by resveratrol could at least partially explain its potential health benefits. Beyond anti-aging/lifespan extension effects and endurance and mitochondrial function improvements, a diversity of additional potential health benefits have been reported for resveratrol, including anticancer, antiviral, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, cardiovascular and neuroprotective activities. As a potential cancer chemopreventive agent, resveratrol has been shown to inhibit tumor initiation, promotion and progression, the three key events in carcinogenesis, by a variety of biochemical mechanisms. There is evidence from animal testing that resveratrol may be particularly effective in reducing the incidence of colon cancer. Furthermore, resveratrol is capable of killing certain types of cancer cells in vitro by inducing apoptosis (programmed cell death). Resveratrol may also have anti-angiogenic effects, which may be important in cancer therapy. Resveratrol has been reported to have protective activity against neuronal cell dysfunction/degeneration. There is evidence of potential effectiveness in such neurological conditions as Huntington's disease (a genetically based neurological disorder) as well as Alzheimer's disease. While there are no specific literature reports of resveratrol use in autistic patients, such individuals may benefit from resveratrol based on the compound's reported antioxidant properties. (The role of oxidative stress in autism, and the use of antioxidants in its treatment, is the subject of a review by Dr. Woody R. McGinness in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, volume 10, pages 22-36, 2004). Resveratrol Topical Cream has been formulated to stabilize the substance and help overcome the bioavailability issues surrounding the use of oral formulations. Topical preparations have been used therapeutically, particularly in the anticancer and antiviral areas. Resveratrol in topical form was able to decrease the binding of cigarette smoke carcinogens benzo[a]pyrene and/or 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene to cellular DNA in an in vitro human oral tissue model and in a mouse epidermis model. Similarly, resveratrol decreased inflammation when applied to mouse skin previously exposed to phorbol, a classical tumor promoter. In separate studies, topical application of resveratrol inhibited medium-wave ultraviolet (UVB) light-induced tumorigenesis in irradiated mouse skin (UVB radiation is the type most responsible for skin cancer). The results of the above studies suggest that topical resveratrol has potential utility as a chemoprotective agent against skin cancer. Interestingly, however, resveratrol was not protective against long-wave ultraviolet (UVA) radiation damage to keratinocytes in vitro (suggesting little or no protection against UVA-induced skin damage/wrinkles). It is speculated that resveratrol may be less effective against UVA because UVA penetrates deeper into the skin than does UVB. With respect to antiviral effects of topical resveratrol preparations, one such preparation markedly inhibited herpes simplex virus (HSV) lesion formation in a mouse model of cutaneous HSV infections. In fact, not only was resveratrol as effective as topical acyclovir against these lesions, it also was effective against an acyclovir-resistant strain of HSV (J. J. Docherty et al., Antiviral Research, 61:19-26, 2004). The potential of topical resveratrol preparations to aid in wound healing has also been noted in the literature. By the way, Chateau Elan, a well-regarded Georgia spa, uses grape seeds in their facial treatments and body wraps, acknowledging the antioxidant properties contained in the seeds. Accordingly, Resveratrol Topical Cream should be able to provide similar benefits, but without the need for expensive spa treatments that (at least temporarily) turn your skin as purple as a grape! In summarizing the potential therapeutic effects of resveratrol, Sinclair and colleague J. A. Baur write, "Despite scepticism concerning its bioavailability, a growing body of in vivo evidence indicates that resveratrol has protective effects in rodent models of stress and disease...and [we] consider its potential as a therapeutic for humans" (Nature Reviews: Drug Discovery 5:493-506, 2006). Resveratrol Topical Cream represents a potentially attractive way of maintaining or increasing the bioavailability of this very interesting natural product. Ingredients: Deionized Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sepigel 305, Lecithin, Alcohol, Resveratrol, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid 2 ounces For external use only. Store in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.
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