Resveratrol: A Cardioprotective Agent

Today, science has a better understanding of why fruits and vegetables should be part of a healthy eating plan. Polyphenols are common constituents of the human diet, present in most foods and beverages of plant origin. They are considered to contribute to the prevention of various degenerative diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. Resveratrol is a polyphenol that occurs naturally in grapes, peanuts, and a number of other plants. It is found in foods/drinks made from grapes and peanuts, and also in a number of herbal remedies, both alone and as part of plant extracts. Resveratrol, initially used for cancer therapy, has shown beneficial effects against most degenerative and cardiovascular diseases from atherosclerosis, hypertension, and heart failure to diabetes, obesity, and aging. An attempt has been made to present the role of resveratrol in cardiovascular disease and the research challenges in this area.