Resveratrol has a wide range of benefits including anti-cancer activity, heart and circulatory protection, it's an antioxidant and seems to promote increased endurance through possibly improving mitochondria function as well as other benefits. Here is a sampling from an article I found. I will be posting more info on this wonderful compound later. It can be found in red grapes, wine, peanuts, mullberries as well as in giant knotweed.

http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdrugp.../res_0224.shtml

Resveratrol is found in grapevines (Vitis vinifera L). It occurs in the vines, roots, seeds and stalks, but its highest concentration is in grape skins. Wine also contains resveratrol. The concentration of resveratrol in red wine is much higher than that of white wine. The main difference between red and white wine production, besides the grapes used, is that for red wine the skins and seeds are involved in the process, while white wine is mainly prepared from the juice, essentially avoiding the use of grape skins and seeds. During the wine making process, resveratrol, as well as other polyphenols, including quercetin, catechins, gallocatechins, procyanidins and prodelphidins (condensed tannins), are extracted from the grape skins via a process called maceration.

Resveratrol, as well as the other polyphenols in wine, is thought to account in large part for the so-called French Paradox. The French Paradox��"the finding that the rate of coronary heart disease mortality in France is lower than observed in other industrialized countries with a similar risk factor profile��"has been attributed to frequent consumption of red wine.

In addition to grapes and wine, dietary sources of resveratrol include peanuts and mulberries. Resveratrol is also found in significant amounts in the dried roots and stems of the plant Polygonium cuspidatum Sieb. Et Zucc., also known as the Japanese knotweed. The dried root and stem of this plant is used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine as a circulatory tonic, among other things. This traditional Chinese and Japanese remedy is also known as Hu Zhang, Hu Chang, tiger cane, kojo-kon and hadori-kon. Most of the resveratrol-containing supplements which are marketed in the U.S. contain extracts of the root of Polygonium cuspidatum. Darakchasava, an ayurvedic herbal remedy, has as its principal ingredient Vitis vinifera L, and therefore, contains resveratrol. It is mainly used in ayurvedic medicine as a cardiotonic.

Resveratrol, which is also known as 3,4',5 trihydroxystilbene and 3,4',5-stilbenetriol, exists in cis- and trans-stereoisomeric forms. Resveratrol is the parent molecule of a family of polymers called viniferins. Cis- and trans-resveratrol occur naturally as do their glucosides. Resveratrol-3-O-beta-D-glucoside is also known as piceid, and the respective cis- and trans-glucosides are called cis-piceid and trans-piceid. The molecular formula of resveratrol is C14H12O3 and its molecular weight is 228.25 daltons. It is represented by the following structural formula:

Resveratrol

The stereoisomer of resveratrol found in grapes and peanuts is the trans-form. Both cis- and trans-resveratrol are found in Polygonium cuspidatum. Therefore, dietary supplements containing resveratrol, which are principally derived from this plant, contain both stereoisomers. The amount of resveratrol (trans-resveratrol) in peanuts ranges from 0.02 to 1.79 micrograms per gram. Red wine contains from 0.6 to 0.8 micrograms per milliliter, and fresh grape skin, approximately 50 to 100 micrograms per gram. A glass of red wine delivers on the average, between 600 to 700 micrograms of resveratrol.
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
ACTIONS

Resveratrol may have cardioprotective and antiproliferative actions.
MECHANISM OF ACTION

Resveratrol has several activities that may account for its possible cardioprotective action. These include inhibition of the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation and inhibition of platelet aggregation. Resveratrol has also been found to reduce the synthesis of lipids in rat liver and to inhibit the production of proatherogenic eicosanoids by human platelets and neutrophils.

Resveratrol's antioxidant activity may play an important role in its possible cardioprotective action. Above, was mentioned its ability to inhibit the oxidation of LDL. Resveratrol also has been found to exert a strong inhibitory effect on superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide production by macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharides or phorbol esters. It also has been demonstrated to decrease arachidonic acid release induced by lipopolysaccharides or phorbol esters, or by exposure to superoxide or hydrogen peroxide. It has hydroxyl-radical scavenging activity and has recently been found to possess glutathione-sparing activity.

In a rat study of the effect of resveratrol on ischemia-reperfusion, it was found that the substance had a dramatic effect against ischemia-reperfusion-induced arrhythmias and mortality. Resveratrol pretreatment both reduced the incidence and duration of ventricular dysrhythmias, including ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. Resveratrol pretreatment also increased nitric oxide and decreased lactate dehydrogenase levels in the carotid blood. In this example, the cardioprotective effect of resveratrol may be correlated with its antioxidant activity, upregulation of nitric oxide synthesis and protection against endothelial dysfunction.

Resveratrol's possible phytoestrogenic activity may also contribute to its possible cardioprotective action. Resveratrol appears to act as a mixed agonist/antagonist for estrogen receptors alpha and beta. It has been found to bind estrogen receptor beta and estrogen receptor alpha with comparable affinity but with 7,000-fold lower affinity than estradiol. Resveratrol differs from other phytoestrogens, which bind estrogen receptor beta with higher affinity than they bind estrogen receptor alpha. Resveratrol also shows estradiol antagonistic behavior for estrogen receptor alpha with some estrogen receptors. It does not show estradiol antagonistic activity with estrogen receptor beta.

Resveratrol's possible antiproliferative activity also may be accounted for in several different ways. Resveratrol's antioxidant activity was discussed above. It also has antimutagenic activity, as illustrated by its dose-dependent inhibition of the mutagenic response induced by treatment of Salmonella typhimurium strain TM677 with 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA). Resveratrol has been found to inhibit cellular events associated with tumor initiation, promotion and progression. It has been found to inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) activities in different cancer models, suggesting an effect at the level of tumor promotion. It has also been found to reverse tumor-promoter-induced inhibition of gap-junctional intracellular communication in rat epithelial cells. Inhibition of gap-junctional intracellular communication is an important mechanism of tumor promotion.

Resveratrol has demonstrated inhibition of growth of several cancer cell lines and tumors, suggesting that it has an inhibitory effect on cancer promotion/progression. It has been found to inhibit ribonucleotide reductase, DNA polymerase, the transcription of COX-2 in human mammary epithelial cells and the activity of ornithine decarboxylase. Ornithine decarboxylase is a key enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis, which is enhanced in tumor growth.

Resveratrol has also been found to induce phase II metabolizing enzymes which are involved in the detoxification of carcinogens, to upregulate apoptosis, to inhibit the progression of cancer by inducing cell differentiation and to inhibit protein kinase D and possibly protein kinase C. Recently, resveratrol has been shown to inhibit both NF-kappaB activation and NF-kappaB-dependent gene expression via its ability to inhibit IkappaB kinase activity, the key regulator of NF-kappaB activation. This appears to upregulate apoptosis.

It is clear that resveratrol has a wide range of activities that may account for its possible antiproliferative action. It is also clear that the mechanism of this possible action is far from being understood.

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com:8100/le...resveratrol.htm

For years, scientists have been puzzled by the so-called "French Paradox": although the French tend to eat diets higher in saturated fats than American diets while exercising less and smoking more, people in France experience cardiovascular disease at a rate about 40% lower than that of Americans. Several studies have suggested that a possible solution to the French Paradox is the relatively high consumption of wine—particularly red wine—in France.
The chemical structure of resveratrol.

Particular attention has been given to a compound found in high concentration in grape skins called resveratrol, for research suggests that it is an antioxidant, affects lipid metabolism, acts as an anti-inflammatory, blocks platelet aggregation, slows the progression of many cancers, and possibly increases the human lifespan. Identification of such compounds is important, since the red wine itself can lead to a wide range of problems, both social and physical, from impaired judgment to liver damage. Although the news reports usually focus on the health benefits of red wine, resveratrol is also found in other food plants, including peanuts, mulberries, and raspberries. Resveratrol tablets are also available, although other related compounds found in the food plants are likely also effective in prevention of heart disease. Resveratrol, or trans-3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene, belongs to a group of compounds called polyphenols.
Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

Resveratrol's heart-disease prevention seems to arise from at least two different activities. First, the antioxidant activity of resveratrol has been shown to affect lipid metabolism. Since resveratrol contains both hydrophilic and hydrophobic components, it is believed to act more effectively than other well-known antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E. Resveratrol interacts with lipids, particularly low-density lipoproteins (LDLs, so-called "bad cholesterol"), and prevents peroxidative degradation of these lipids by scavenging oxygen free radicals. Damaged LDLs are more likely to form arterial plaques, so by preventing LDL degradation antioxidants guard against atherosclerosis.

Resveratrol also appears to inhibit platelet aggregation, which in turn also helps to prevent the formation of plaques. Resveratrol has been shown to inhibit transcription of the genes that code for the cyclooxygenase enzymes COX-1 and COX-2. These enzymes are used by cells to produce prostaglandins, which, among other things, are the key mediators of platelet aggregation. The anti-COX activity of resveratrol also causes resveratrol's anti-inflammatory activity (see the Aspirin article).
Cancer Prevention and Treatment

Besides their role in plaque formation, oxygen free radicals also damage DNA. Damage of certain genes, such as those involved in the regulation of the cell cycle, can cause a cell to become cancerous. By scavenging these oxygen free radicals, the antioxidant resveratrol helps to prevent cancer.

Resveratrol has also been shown to induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells. Resveratrol appears to activate the p53 protein, which in turn induces apoptosis in cells in which DNA has been damaged. Additionally, resveratrol seems to induce apoptosis in some cancer cell lines through a p53-independent pathway.

However, resveratrol has also been shown to act as a phytoestrogen, or plant-derived estrogen mimic. Since such compounds have been shown to possibly increase the risk of breast cancer in women, it is conceivable that resveratrol's cancer-preventing effect is at least partially offset by a tendency to increase the rate of cancer in women.
An Elixir of Youth?

Recent studies have shown yet another possible benefit of resveratrol. Research has shown that increasing the activity of a single gene, SIR2, can extend the lifespan of yeast by as much as 70%. It is believed that the protein product of this gene stabilizes DNA, and perhaps negatively regulates the p53 promoter. An analogous gene, SIRT1, has been identified in human cells.

Resveratrol, along with several other polyphenols, appears to activate SIR2 in yeast cells. Yeast cells fed a diet including resveratrol were able to divide about 40 times before dying, compared to about 25 times for yeast on a diet lacking resveratrol. Similar results have been shown for fruitflies (granting about ten days to their usual one-month lifespan)

A very broad range of pharmacological activity is not necessarily a good thing when looking for a clinically useful agent, as side-effects can be extensive for any particular focus of application. One example here: resveratrol is a potent inhibitor of both catalytic activities of COX-1, the desired drug target for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, but only a weak inhibitor of the peroxidase activity of COX-2, the isoform target for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (http://www.jbc.org/cgi/content/full/279/21/22727), and selective cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition causes damage to portal hypertensive gastric mucosa (http://www.fasebj.org/cgi/content/full/19/9/1163).

Get that colonoscopy and follow his recommendations.

173 over 90 is not any kind of borderline high BP, it's way way too high.

I ... take vitamins, minerals and supplements every day.

A well known preventative for colon cancer is to take a small amount of asprin every day or every other day.

It prevents the precancerous lesions in the intestine that can become cancerous. You have to keep it up for years to get the protectioni. I've been taking it for over 15 years along with a raft of other things.

Lindsay, here is a quote from the link you gave us:

"This level of 140/90 mmHg is the level for high blood pressure for everyone, whether you are male or female, young or old."

Resveratrol and cancer
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/phyt...eratrol/#cancer
When added to cells cultured outside the body, resveratrol has been found to inhibit the proliferation of a variety of human cancer cell lines, including those from breast, prostate, stomach, colon, pancreatic and thyroid cancers....

Excellent. My congratulations.

I made an experiment with red wine and it works!
Now I undestand why Noah first planted vineyard when came out of the Arc.

I am presume we are all curious: What was the experiment?

BTW, was Noah's wife named Joan; Joan of Arc?

Medical science can be very helpful in making a diagnosis of the problem; but in the final analysis, the total health of patients requires more than the taking of drugs and the use of surgery. It requires that we patients take personal care of what we eat, physically, mentally and spiritually.

Pharma develops nutritional solutions that complement traditional medical management by physicians. BioAdvantex Pharma supports research for the role of nutrition in maintaining a quality and healthy life. Recognizing the compelling data that exists for nutritional supplementation BioAdvantex Pharma created a product line that helps support a healthy life. Our credo is to provide helpful, healthful information and offer high quality products, while encouraging an open dialogue between the patient and the physician.