Antioxidant effect of Resveratrol on vascular function

Introduction: Oxidative stress (OS) results from the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), being responsible for the development of numerous pathologies. Resveratrol (3,5,4’- trihydroxystilbene) is a naturally occurring antioxidant, produced by a wide variety of fruit and plant species, in response to several stimuli. Due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardio, and neuroprotective properties, this polyphenol has shown great interest in recent years. Objective: To understand the role of resveratrol in enzymatic antioxidant defenses and vascular function, but also in decreasing inflammation. Material and Methods: 27 healthy students, aged 18 - 22 years, were randomized into control (CG) and experimental (EG) groups, and submitted to placebo and resveratrol supplementation, respectively, for 30 consecutive days. In these participants, laboratory evaluation of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reductase (GluRed) activity by spectrophotometry, and serum levels of endothelin 1 (ET-1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) by slot blot were performed, before (T0) and after supplementation (T1). Results: Evaluating GPx activity at T1, higher values were observed in the EG (p = 0.005). Regarding GluRed, both groups demonstrated a tendency to increase enzyme activity at T1. However, significant results were only observed in CG (p = 0.004). In the remaining parameters evaluated, no significant differences were observed. Conclusions: Supplementation with resveratrol may be effective in reducing OS by increasing the activity of endogenous antioxidant enzymes. Yet, it was unable to prove its role as a cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory agent.