New Insights on the Biophysical Interaction of Resveratrol with Biomembrane Models: Relevance for Its Biological Effects

J Phys Chem B. 2015 Sep 3;119(35):11664-72. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.5b05419. Epub 2015 Aug 18.

Abstract

Resveratrol has been widely studied because of its pleiotropic effects in cancer therapy, neuroprotection, and cardioprotection. It is believed that the interaction of resveratrol with biological membranes may play a key role in its therapeutic activity. The capacity of resveratrol to partition into lipid bilayers, its possible location within the membrane, and the influence of this compound on the membrane fluidity were investigated using membrane mimetic systems composed of egg l-α-phosphatidylcholine (EPC), cholesterol (CHOL), and sphingomyelin (SM). The results showed that resveratrol has greater affinity for the EPC bilayers than for EPC:CHOL [4:1] and EPC:CHOL:SM [1:1:1] membrane models. The increased difficulty in penetrating tight packed membranes is also demonstrated by fluorescence quenching of probes and by fluorescence anisotropy measurements. Resveratrol may be involved in the regulation of cell membrane fluidity, thereby contributing for cell homeostasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology
  • Cardiotonic Agents / chemistry*
  • Cardiotonic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cholesterol / chemistry
  • Lipid Bilayers / chemistry*
  • Liposomes / chemistry*
  • Membrane Fluidity / drug effects
  • Molecular Structure
  • Neuroprotective Agents / chemistry*
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology
  • Phosphatidylcholines / chemistry
  • Resveratrol
  • Spectrophotometry
  • Sphingomyelins / chemistry
  • Stilbenes / chemistry*
  • Stilbenes / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Cardiotonic Agents
  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Liposomes
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Phosphatidylcholines
  • Sphingomyelins
  • Stilbenes
  • Cholesterol
  • Resveratrol