We know that, Resveratrol (found in the skin of red grapes and is a constituent of red wine, see structure) (trans-resveratrol) is a phytoalexin produced naturally by several plants when under attack by pathogens such as bacteria or fungi. And also it has been reported to possess diverse activities such as, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, blood-sugar-lowering and other beneficial cardiovascular effects in mouse and rat models of testings. In the only positive human trial, extremely high doses (3–5 g) of resveratrol in a proprietary formulation have been necessary to significantly lower blood sugar.Claims of anti-aging effects of the same compounds is to be still established.
Now researchers led by Rensselaer Professor Peter M. Tessier, have come up with an interesting finding i.e., resveratrol - has the ability to neutralize the toxic effects of proteins linked to Alzheimer's disease.
As per the claims by the researchers, resveratrol picks out the clumps of peptides that are bad and leaves alone the ones that are benign, it helps us to think about the structural differences between the peptide isoforms (different packing arrangements of a particular peptide) Deformations of a particular peptide the Aβ1-42 peptide, have been linked to Alzheimer's disease.
Improperly folded peptides have been shown to collect in accumulations called "plaques (often found near areas of cell death in diseased brain)" within the brain.
Researchers conclude that, though it is not clear that resveratrol is able to cross the blood-brain barrier. However, the molecule has garnered interest in recent years for its potential impact on cancer and aging...
Ref : http://www.jbc.org/content/early/2010/05/28/jbc.M110.133108....