Antioxidant Properties of Resveratrol and its Protective Effects in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Summary Resveratrol is a natural organic compound, polyphenol, produced naturally by some plants in response to several harmful factors such as attack by pathogens, UV radiation, or increased oxidative stress. Many experiments suggest that it triggers mechanisms that counteract aging-related effects and plays a role in insulin resistance as well. It also possesses beneficial properties such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, blood-sugar-lowering and cardiovascular effects. It is supposed to exhibit an interesting activity in neuroprotection - mainly through activation of sirtuins and counteraction in forming peptide aggregates. Still research is needed to evaluate exactly how resveratrol protects neurons, and to develop new, potential, therapeutic drugs