Resveratrol as an anti-cancer agent: A review

Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2018 Jun 13;58(9):1428-1447. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2016.1263597. Epub 2017 Jul 21.

Abstract

Owing to their antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity, grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) are the archetypal paradigms of fruits used not only for nutritional purposes, but also for exclusive therapeutics. Grapes are a prominent and promising source of phytochemicals, especially resveratrol, a phytoalexin antioxidant found in red grapes which has both chemopreventive and therapeutic effects against various ailments. Resveratrol's role in reducing different human cancers, including breast, cervical, uterine, blood, kidney, liver, eye, bladder, thyroid, esophageal, prostate, brain, lung, skin, gastric, colon, head and neck, bone, ovarian, and cervical, has been reviewed. This review covers the literature that deals with the anti-cancer mechanism of resveratrol with special reference to antioxidant potential. Furthermore, this article summarizes the literature pertaining to resveratrol as an anti-cancer agent.

Keywords: Resveratrol; chemopreventive agent; human cancers.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fruit
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Phytoalexins
  • Phytochemicals / pharmacology
  • Resveratrol
  • Sesquiterpenes / pharmacology
  • Stilbenes / pharmacology*
  • Vitis / chemistry

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Antioxidants
  • Phytochemicals
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • Stilbenes
  • Resveratrol
  • Phytoalexins