Resveratrol Inhibits Cytomegalovirus (Herpes) Replication
Research conducted at the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill by D.L. Evers, X. Wang, S.M. Huong, D.Y. Huang, and E.S. Huang on the effects of resveratrol on cytomegalovirus (a variety of herpes) revealed some startling results.
Testing Resveratrol as a Herpes Treatment
In this 2004 study, for the first time, red wine resveratrol was tested to determine its effect on cytomegalovirus.
To accomplish this the researchers tested an IC50 strain of cytomegalovirus to determine whether resveratrol could arrest cell development in the virus in the same way it arrests cell development in cancers.
Resveratrol prevented the appearance of viral proteins. In doing so, it reduced DNA replication of the cytomegalovirus to undetectable levels. The researchers hypothesize that resveratrol blocked epidermal growth in the cells and ceased the continued development of the cells.
What this means for the general population is that resveratrol supplements are an effective inhibitor in the development of the Herpes virus, which can be found in anywhere from 50% to 85% of the human population by the time they are 40 years of age.
Resveratrol Restricts Herpes Simplex Virus from Replicating
Doctors J.J. Docherty, M.M. Fu, B.S. Stiffler, R.J. Limperos, C.M. Pokabla and A.L. DeLucia from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Northeastern Ohio University’s College of Medicine released a study in 1999 that found resveratrol - an ingredient in red wine - restricts the replication of the herpes simplex virus.
The naturally occurring plant compound, resveratrol, was found to restrict the herpes simplex virus, types 1 and 2, from replicating its genetic material during human cell reproduction.
Red wine resveratrol targeted an early event in the virus replication cycle that inhibited the virus from copying itself into new, healthy cells.
Resveratrol also delayed a stage of the cell cycle, at interphase, which restricted the reactivation of the virus from latently infected cells and a major viral regulator protein.
The research suggests that resveratrol dosage plays an important antiviral role in stopping or restricting an early event in the viral cell replication cycle. This will inhibit the virus from being copied into the genetic material of new cells.
Resveratrol Shown to Aid in Human Immune Cell Functions
Publishers from Life Science released a study from researchers from the Institute of Experimental Medicine in Rome, Italy in November, 2001 that provides evidence that resveratrol, an ingredient in red wine, may aid in the healthy function of human immune cells.
Drs. R. Falchetti, M.P. Fuggetta, G. Lanzilli, M. Tricarico, and G. Ravagnan published findings showing that red wine resveratrol has a wide range of activities affecting the human immune system.
Antioxidant Resveratrol Jump Starts Immune Cell Production
Resveratrol was shown to jump start immune cell production and growth even at low concentrations. The human immune system produces many types of cells to help protect the body. Resveratrol was seen to affect the production of one such cell called cytokine, which is a type of white blood cell that is involved in cellular reproduction, growth, immunity and tolerance. These types of blood cells are essential for regulating the immune system’s response to infections.
Resveratrol is found in red wine but can also be consumed in supplement form. The benefits of consuming resveratrol supplements are many. Specifically, resveratrol can aid the immune system in producing the many types of white blood cells that are necessary to help the body fight infections and disease.
Other important functions of resveratrol in regard to the immune system include aiding cells in response to ultra violet radiation exposure, free radicals, and bacterial or viral antibodies. Even at very low levels, resveratrol can help activate human immune system responses.