Novel combination therapy may help provide clinically successful treatment for AD

In continuation of my update on Resveratrol

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenolic phytochemical produced in several plants, especially grapes skin and seeds. One epidemiological study reported a positive association between moderate red wine consumption and a low incidence of cardiovascular disease, known as the "French Paradox." The neuroprotective effects of resveratrol for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been investigated in various in vitro and in vivo models of AD. Despite the high bioactivity of resveratrol in AD, there is poor bioavailability of resveratrol, that is, the concentrations required producing favourable biological effects in the brain and neuronal cells are insufficient to demonstrate efficacy in humans. Therefore, successful clinical application of resveratrol as a single 'take home' oral therapy alone presents a major challenge for the treatment of AD.

We propose herein a novel combination therapy consisting of an agent for chelating redox-active metals (Fe2+) and/or an antioxidant to reduce damage caused by residual oxygen free radicals, in addition to resveratrol, a modulator of AMPK and sirtuin pathways (nuclear transcription). The addition of resveratrol may have the capacity to increase activity of the NAD+- dependant deacetylases such as sirtuin family enzymes (e.g. SIRT1) and promote improved DNA repair by enhancing PARP enzyme activity through increased production of their essential substrate NAD+, and thus improve cell viability and longevity. A synergistic combination of a selected antioxidant substances, Fe2+ chelating agents and resveratrol may be expected to provide a more clinically successful treatment.

Compound found in grapes, red wine may help prevent memory loss

In continuation of my update on resveratrol

A compound found in common foods such as red grapes and peanuts may help prevent age-related decline in memory, according to new research published by a faculty member in the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine.

Ashok K. Shetty, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine and Director of Neurosciences at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine, has been studying the potential benefit of resveratrol, an antioxidant that is found in the skin of red grapes, as well as in red wine, peanuts and some berries.

Resveratrol has been widely touted for its potential to prevent heart disease, but Shetty and a team that includes other researchers from the health science center believe it also has positive effects on the hippocampus, an area of the brain that is critical to functions such as memory, learning and mood.

Because both humans and animals show a decline in cognitive capacity after middle age, the findings may have implications for treating memory loss in the elderly. Resveratrol may even be able to help people afflicted with severe neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.

In a study published online Jan. 28 in Scientific Reports, Shetty and his research team members reported that treatment with resveratrol had apparent benefits in terms of learning, memory and mood function in aged rats.

"The results of the study were striking," Shetty said. "They indicated that for the control rats who did not receive resveratrol, spatial learning ability was largely maintained but ability to make new spatial memories significantly declined between 22 and 25 months. By contrast, both spatial learning and memory improved in the resveratrol-treated rats."

Shetty said neurogenesis (the growth and development of neurons) approximately doubled in the rats given resveratrol compared to the control rats. The resveratrol-treated rats also had significantly improved microvasculature, indicating improved blood flow, and had a lower level of chronic inflammation in the hippocampus.

"The study provides novel evidence that resveratrol treatment in late middle age can help improve memory and mood function in old age," Shetty said.

Compound found in grapes, red wine may help prevent memory loss 

Compound in grapes, red wine could help treat multiple types of cancer

In continuation of my update on resveratrol

A recent study by a University of Missouri researcher shows that resveratrol, a compound found in grape skins and red wine, can make certain tumor cells more susceptible to radiation treatment. This research, which studied melanoma cells, follows a previous MU study that found similar results in the treatment of prostate cancer. The next step is for researchers to develop a successful method to deliver the compound to tumor sites and potentially treat many types of cancers.

"Our study investigated how resveratrol and radiotherapy inhibit the survival of melanoma cells," said Michael Nicholl, MD, assistant professor of surgery at the MU School of Medicine and surgical oncologist at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center in Columbia, Mo. "This work expands upon our previous success with resveratrol and radiation in prostate cancer. Because of difficulties involved in delivery of adequate amounts of resveratrol to melanoma tumors, the compound is probably not an effective treatment for advanced melanoma at this time."

The study found that melanoma cells become more susceptible to radiation if they were treated first with resveratrol. The MU researcher found that when the cancer was treated with resveratrol alone, 44 percent of the tumor cells were killed. When the cancer cells were treated with a combination of both resveratrol and radiation, 65 percent of the tumor cells died.

Nicholl said his findings could lead to more research into the cancer-fighting benefits of the naturally occurring compound.

"We've seen glimmers of possibilities, and it seems that resveratrol could potentially be very important in treating a variety of cancers," Nicholl said. "It comes down to how to administer the resveratrol. If we can develop a successful way to deliver the compound to tumor sites, resveratrol could potentially be used to treat many types of cancers. Melanoma is very tricky due to the nature of how the cancer cells travel throughout the body, but we envision resveratrol could be combined with radiation to treat symptomatic metastatic tumors, which can develop in the brain or bone."

Ref : http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2013.02.037

Compound in grapes, red wine could help treat multiple types of cancer

Compound in grapes Resveratrol, red wine could be key to fighting prostate cancer

In continuation of my update on Resveratrol

We know that, Resveratrol, a compound found commonly in grape skins and red wine, has been shown to have several beneficial effects on human health, including cardiovascular health and stroke prevention. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has discovered that the compound can make prostate tumor cells more susceptible to radiation treatment, increasing the chances of a full recovery from all types of prostate cancer, including aggressive tumors.

Ref : http://www.andrologyjournal.org/cgi/content/abstract/33/4/752

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1349-7006.2012.02272.x/abstract;jsessionid=2638CB82B18F3EF652F3261E74A75CCA.d01t02

Compound in grapes, red wine could be key to fighting prostate cancer

Resveratrol might help improve mobility and prevent life-threatening falls among older people

In continuation of my update on Resveratrol...

"Our study suggests that a natural compound like resveratrol, which can be obtained either through dietary supplementation or diet itself, could actually decrease some of the motor deficiencies that are seen in our aging population," said Jane E. Cavanaugh, Ph.D., leader of the research team. "And that would, therefore, increase an aging person's quality of life and decrease their risk of hospitalization due to slips and falls."

Resveratrol might help improve mobility and prevent life-threatening falls among older people

Nicotinamide riboside can protect against obesity

A natural ingredient found in milk can protect against obesity even as mice continue to enjoy diets that are high in fat. 

The researchers identified this ingredient, known as nicotinamide riboside (see structure), as they were searching for alternative ways to boost the well-known gene SIRT1, which comes with benefits for both metabolism and longevity. One way to do that is to target SIRT1 directly, as the red wine ingredient resveratrol appears to do, at least at some doses.

Auwerx's team lead by Johan Auwerx, suspected there might be a simpler way to go about it, by boosting levels of one of SIRT1's molecular sidekicks, the cofactor NAD+. 

This milk ingredient does just that in a rather appealing way. Not only is it a natural product, but it also gets trapped within cells, where it can do its magic.

Mice that take nicotinamide riboside in fairly high doses along with their high-fat meals burn more fat and are protected from obesity. They also become better runners thanks to muscles that have greater endurance.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/5YwzyqXzntY

Nicotinamide riboside can protect against obesity

Trial will evaluate resveratrol in Alzheimer's dementia

In continuation of my update on Resveratrol

Researchers at Georgetown University and 25 other U.S. academic institutions affiliated with the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study will be conducting a phase II double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial that will test the effects of resveratrol in Alzheimer's disease patients. "This is the gold-standard for conducting a clinical study because it allows us to objectively determine if resveratrol is offering any benefits," stated Brigid Reynolds, NP, who is the lead researcher for the study's center at Georgetown.

The twelve-month trial, funded by the National Institute on Aging, will enroll men and women age 50 and over with mild to moderate dementia diagnosed as probable Alzheimer's disease and will require one caregiver or friend for each patient. Participants will be initially assigned to 500 milligrams resveratrol or a placebo daily, with dosage to be increased at 13 week intervals to a maximum of 1,000 milligrams twice per day. Lumbar punctures, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and blood and urine tests will monitor the subjects' progress over the course of ten visits. The researchers hope to determine whether supplementation with resveratrol is helpful in delaying or altering the deterioration of memory and daily function that occurs in Alzheimer's disease.

"Most resveratrol studies showing any health benefits have been conducted in animal models, such as mice, and with doses that far exceed intake from sipping wine or nibbling on chocolate," stated R. Scott Turner, MD, PhD, who is the director of Georgetown University Medical Center's Memory Disorders Program and the national study's lead investigator. "With this clinical trial, we'll find out if daily doses of pure resveratrol can delay or alter memory deterioration and daily functioning in people with mild to moderate dementia due to Alzheimer's."

"During this study, we will also test whether resveratrol improves glucose and insulin metabolism in older individuals -- although those who already have diabetes will not be included in this study," he added....

Ref : http://explore.georgetown.edu/news/?ID=64145

Potential Method to Control Obesity: Red Wine, Fruit Compound Could Help Block Fat Cell Formation

A compound found in red wine, grapes and other fruits, and similar in structure to resveratrol, is able to block cellular processes that allow fat cells to develop, opening a door to a potential method to control obesity, according to a Purdue University study. 

While similar in structure to resveratrol -- the compound found in red wine, grapes and peanuts that is thought to combat cancer, heart disease and neurodegenerative diseases -- piceatannol might be an important weapon against obesity. Resveratrol is converted to piceatannol in humans after consumption.

"Piceatannol (see structure) actually alters the timing of gene expressions, gene functions and insulin action during adipogenesis, the process in which early stage fat cells become mature fat cells," Kim said. "In the presence of piceatannol, you can see delay or complete inhibition of adipogenesis."

Ref : http://www.jbc.org/content/287/14/11566.abstract?sid=709d2cb0-7757-468e-9a5b-4160072e5e24 

Ingredient in red wine may prevent some blinding diseases

In continuation of my update on Resveratrol.......
Ingredient in red wine may prevent some blinding diseases

Resveratrol in Red Wine Neutralizes Toxicity of Proteins Related to Alzheimer's

We know that, Resveratrol (found in the skin of red grapes and is a constituent of red wine, see structure)  (trans-resveratrol) is a phytoalexin produced naturally by several plants when under attack by pathogens such as bacteria or fungi.  And also it has been reported to possess diverse activities such as, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, blood-sugar-lowering and other beneficial cardiovascular effects in mouse and rat models of testings. In the only positive human trial, extremely high doses (3–5 g) of resveratrol in a proprietary formulation have been necessary to significantly lower blood sugar.Claims of anti-aging effects of the same compounds is to be still established.

Now researchers led by Rensselaer Professor Peter M. Tessier, have come up with an interesting finding i.e., resveratrol - has the ability to neutralize the toxic effects of proteins linked to Alzheimer's disease. 

As per the claims by the researchers, resveratrol picks out the clumps of peptides that are bad and leaves alone the ones that are benign, it helps us to think about the structural differences between the peptide isoforms (different packing arrangements of a particular peptide) Deformations of a particular peptide  the Aβ1-42 peptide,   have been linked to Alzheimer's disease. 

Improperly folded peptides have been shown to collect in accumulations called "plaques (often found near areas of cell death in diseased brain)" within the brain.

Researchers conclude that, though it is not clear that resveratrol is able to cross the blood-brain barrier. However, the molecule has garnered interest in recent years for its potential impact on cancer and aging...

Ref : http://www.jbc.org/content/early/2010/05/28/jbc.M110.133108....