Into The Heart website was originated July 2007, as such more information regarding the physiological effects of red wine will be posted during the upcoming weeks.

The resveratrol content in red wine has positive effects on vasculture and cardio-vascular integrity.

In addition, the resveratrol content in red wine also has significant positive physiological effects in regard to cell function.

Resveratrol has been found to inhibit cellular events associated with tumor initiation, promotion and progression. It has been found to inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) activities in different cancer models, suggesting an effect at the level of tumor promotion. It has also been found to reverse tumor-promoter-induced inhibition of gap-junctional intracellular communication in rat epithelial cells.

Inhibition of gap-junctional intracellular communication is an important mechanism of tumor promotion.

Resveratrol has demonstrated inhibition of growth of several cancer cell lines and tumors, suggesting that it has an inhibitory effect on cancer promotion/progression. It has been found to inhibit ribonucleotide reductase, DNA polymerase, the transcription of COX-2 in human mammary epithelial cells and the activity of ornithine decarboxylase. Ornithine decarboxylase is a key enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis, which is enhanced in tumor growth.

Resveratrol has also been found to induce phase II metabolizing enzymes which are involved in the detoxification of carcinogens, to upregulate apoptosis, to inhibit the progression of cancer by inducing cell differentiation and to inhibit protein kinase D and possibly protein kinase C. Recently, resveratrol has been shown to inhibit both NF-kappaB activation and NF-kappaB-dependent gene expression via its ability to inhibit IkappaB kinase activity, the key regulator of NF-kappaB activation. This appears to upregulate apoptosis (programed cell death).

Source:
Physicans Desk Reference 2004
www.pdrhealth.com