While a number of studies have shed light on the benefits of resveratrol, a compound found in red wine and dark chocolate, a group of American researchers are taking a second look in order to find how the compound actually affects the biological working of the body cells.
Researchers from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in Maryland tried to identify what was the effect of resveratrol on body cells and found that the compound acted as an inhibitor to proteins called phosphodiesterases which regulates the production of energy in the cells.
Advertisement
The researchers found that the compound tricked the proteins into believing that the cells were deprived of energy and thereby increasing the production of energy-producing proteins, leading to hopes that it can be used in treating Alzheimer's, diabetes and heart diseases.
However the researchers did not find any evidence that the compound increased the lifespan as previously thought. The study has been published in the journal Cell.
Source: Medindia
Source: Medindia
Advertisement
Advertisement
