Resveratrol may have anti-flu activity

ABC News & Reuters ^ | May 24, 2005

[Coleus]

May 24, 2005 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Resveratrol, a chemical found in red grapes, blocks replication of the influenza virus in cell culture and in animals, Italian researchers report.

"Resveratrol merits further investigation as a potential weapon for combating the growing threat of influenza," Dr. Anna Teresa Palamara of the Institute of Microbiology in Rome and colleagues conclude.

In cell culture experiments, resveratrol prevented influenza from replicating.

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Resveratrol treatment had the greatest effect when administered 3 hours after exposure to influenza. Smaller but significant effects were seen when treatment began 6 hours after infection, but at 9 hours after infection resveratrol treatment had no effect. Pre-treatment also did not change susceptibility to infection.

Studies in a mouse model of influenza showed that injections of resveratrol after inoculation of influenza increased survival by 40% compared with placebo injections. The amount of virus present in the lung 6 days after infection was 98% lower in the resveratrol-treated mice.

Resveratrol 's anti-influenza activity seems to center on its ability to interfere with key "host-cell functions" that are essential for virus replication, the authors explain in The Journal of Infectious Diseases.

SOURCE: Journal of Infectious Diseases May 15, 2005.

[Dashing Dasher]

Is it in Red Wine too - or just the grapes?

[Coleus]

Resveratrol, a plant polyphenol found in red grapes, could be a useful tool to combat the spread of ‘flu, say Italian researchers.

Dr Anna Palamara of the Institute of Microbiology in Rome carried out in vitro and in vivo studies to investigate the chemical’s effects on the replication of the influenza virus.

Palamara’s hypothesis was based on earlier observations that the lifecycles of several viruses is influenced by the redox states of host cells, which play an important part in the replication of viruses.

In the in vitro study, she found that resveratrol “strongly inhibited” the replication of the influenza virus in cell cultures. The optimum effects were seen when resveratrol was administered three hours after the virus. Some small effect was seen when it was administered six hours after infection, but by nine hours it had no effect.

The researchers also determined that pre-treatment with resveratrol did not alter susceptibility to infection.

In the mouse model, rodents injected with resveratrol after inoculation with the influenza virus were seen to have 40 percent increased survival, compared with those that received a placebo.

Six days after infection, the resveratrol-treated mice had 98 percent lower pulmonary viral titers in their lung than the placebo mice.

Resveratrol’s effects in this study are attributed to its antioxidant properties, and in particular the fact that it inhibits a cellular, rather than a viral function. Palamara said that further research into resveratrol’s potential role in fighting ‘flu epidemics is required, but that her study points to considerable potential.

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[Coleus]

Found mostly in the skins of grapes, in red grape juice and red wine.

[JennysCool]

One for the vino list!

[Coleus]

The Journal of Infectious Diseases    2005;191:1719-1729
© 2005 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved.
0022-1899/2005/19110-0019$15.00

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MAJOR ARTICLE

Inhibition of Influenza A Virus Replication by Resveratrol

Anna T. Palamara,¹ Lucia Nencioni,¹ Katia Aquilano,² Giovanna De Chiara,³ Leyanis Hernandez,³ Federico Cozzolino,⁴ Maria R. Ciriolo,² and Enrico Garaci³

¹Institute of Microbiology, University of Rome "La Sapienza," Departments of ²Biology and ³Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Rome "Tor Vergata," and ⁴Institute of Neurobiology and Molecular Medicine, Italian National Research Council, Rome, Italy

We have previously shown that the life cycles of several viruses are influenced by host-cell redox states. Reports of the antioxidant activities of the plant polyphenol resveratrol (RV) prompted us to investigate its effects on influenza virus replication in vitro and in vivo. We found that RV strongly inhibited the replication of influenza virus in MDCK cells but that this activity was not directly related to glutathione-mediated antioxidant activity. Rather, it involved the blockade of the nuclear-cytoplasmic translocation of viral ribonucleoproteins and reduced expression of late viral proteins seemingly related to the inhibition of protein kinase C activity and its dependent pathways. RV also significantly improved survival and decreased pulmonary viral titers in influenza virusinfected mice. No toxic effects were observed in vitro or in vivo. That RV acts by inhibiting a cellular, rather than a viral, function suggests that it could be a particularly valuable anti-influenza drug.

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     Received 28 July 2004; accepted 15 December 2004; electronically published 13 April 2005.
     Patent pending: PCT application for use of resveratrol for the preparation of a medicament useful for the treatment of influenza virus infection, 04/041260 (14 October 2003).
     Financial support: Sigma-Tau; Italian Ministry of Health (P.F. ex art. 12); Ministry of Instruction, University and Research (special project "Fund for Investments on Basic Research").

Go to full text | Return to Issue Table of Contents

[cyborg]

The flu shot is one of the biggest drug industry boondoogles ever. What a money maker.

[Coleus]

and they don't always get it right. thimerosal anyone? neurotoxins for everyone!
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/thimerosal.htm

[cyborg]

I'll never take a flu shot. I had once in the Air Force and made me sick as a dog. Good point about the thimerosal. Who knows how long some people's vaccines have been sitting around?

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks.

[TheCrusader]

So how long before the FDA declares grapes a drug and begins to regulate the grape industry?

[neverdem]

FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.

[quantim]

Click to be added or removed.

Wine news ping. Thanks JC.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Resveratrol, a chemical found in red grapes, blocks replication of the influenza virus in cell culture and in animals, Italian researchers report.

So does Zinc. I take Zinc lozenges at the first sign of any cold or flu virus. Poof! Gone!

[AxelPaulsenJr]

So does this mean that one could get the same benefits from drinking red wine?

[Grampa Dave]

Resveratrol in wine has the highest levels when it comes from cold climates in the winter. The lakes area Pinot in NY state has excellent levels.

The best on the West Coast is Benton Lane Pinot from an Oregon Vineyard.

http://www.benton-lane.com/healthfulness.html

BENTON-LANE WINES ARE HIGH IN RESVERATROL
The role of resveratrol.............

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring compound in grapes possessing very powerful biological effects. Such effects include minimizing the risk of atheroschlerosis and heart disease, powerful cancer-fighting properties, and protection against degenerative neurologic diseases. Apart from rather small amounts in peanuts, red wine is virtually the only source of this compound in the normal human diet.



According to Professor Emeritus Leroy Creasy of Cornell University “Benton-Lane’s Oregon Pinot Noir contains 40.9 micromoles/liter of resveratrol, the highest resveratrol level of any tested wine currently available.”

Benton-Lane’s Pinot Noir wines consistently test among the highest in the world for the presence of resveratrol.

Resveratrol is a natural anti-fungal agent concentrated in the skins of grapes. Due to Oregon’s often cool and moist climate, grapes from this region contain higher amounts of resveratrol. Red wines contain more resveratrol than white wines because red wines ferment with their skins. Pinot Noir has twice the resveratrol level of Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. These wines average around 8 micromoles/liter whereas Pinot Noir averages around 13 micromoles/liter.

Resveratrol has been shown to boost “good” cholesterol and prevent blood clotting, effects likely responsible for improved heart health.

Resveratrol also has potentially impressive anti-cancer properties. In tests it appears to inhibit the formation and growth of cancer tumors. Recent research by Professor Gerry Potter at De Montfort University in U.K. indicates that resveratrol is converted in the body to piceatannol, a compound which actively fights, not just prevents cancer. Additional laboratory research lead by Professor Alberto Bertelli of Milan University found that resveratrol could possibly protect against degenerative neurologic diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s by stimulating nerve cells to regenerate.

It may be the case that more frequent resveratrol consumption may improve your health. Consult your family doctor about the health effects of wine consumption.

[Coleus]

I wished zinc would work that fast with me, it doesn't. Carlton Fredericks talked bout zinc lozenges 25 years ago, it took a while for the industry to get a product that was palatable.

[MRMEAN]

Dr Anna Palamara of the Institute of Microbiology in Rome carried out in vitro and in vivo studies to investigate the chemical’s effects on the replication of the influenza virus.

I shall conduct my studies in vino.

[PianoMan]

Please add me to the wine ping list.

Thank you,

PianoMan