# Resveratrol: A Review on the Biological Activity and Applications
###### Abstract  
Resveratrol (RSV), a naturally occurring phytoalexin, is the most important stillpenoid synthesized by plants as a defense mechanism in response to microbial aggression, toxins, or ultraviolet radiation. RSV came to the attention of researchers both as a potential chemoprevite agent and a possible explanation for the low incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in French people with a high-fat diet. RSV is mainly administered as a food supplement, and its properties are evaluated in vitro or in vivo on various experimental models. RSV modulates signaling pathways that limit the spread of tumor cells, protects nerve cells from damage, is useful in the prevention of diabetes, and generally acts as an anti-aging natural compound. It was highlighted that RSV could ameliorate the consequences of an unhealthy lifestyle caused by an exaggerated caloric intake. This paper reviews the evidence supporting the beneficial effect of RSV for various pathological conditions, e.g., neoplastic diseases, neurodegeneration, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, obesity, CVDs, immune diseases, bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. The study also focused on the chromatographic analysis of _trans_-RSV (\(t\)RSV) in Romanian wine samples, providing a comprehensive overview of \(t\)RSV content across different types of wine. resveratrol; stillbenoids; grapes; wine; biological activity; applications +
Footnote †: journal: Medical Assistance and Kinetotherapy, Faculty of Science, Physical Education and Informatics, University Center of Pitesti, National University for Science and Technology Politechnica Bucharest, 1 Targu di Vale Street, 110040 Pitesti, Romania; [EMAIL_ADDRESS]  
Footnote †: journal: Medical Assistance and Kinetotherapy, Faculty of Science, Physical Education and Informatics, University Center of Pitesti, National University for Science and Technology Politechnica Bucharest, 1 Targu di Vale Street, 1100400 Pitesti, Romania; [EMAIL_ADDRESS]
health benefits, particularly in preventing and potentially treating various chronic diseases related to aging, through antitumor, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, antidiabetic action [1; 2; 3]. The two natural isomers of RSV, _cis_-RSV (\(c\)RSV) and _trans_-RSV (\(t\)RSV), are biosynthesized almost entirely in grape skins; the highest concentrations of RSV were determined before the ripening of the grapes. \(t\)RSV has the highest biological activity, with \(c\)RSV occasionally being identified only in some wines. It is believed that \(c\)RSV results from an enzymatic reaction during the wine fermentation process or by exposure of \(t\)RSV to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. \(t\)RSV is relatively stable and is preferred for chemical analyzes and syntheses [1]. RSV came to the attention of researchers approximately five decades ago, and it is both a potential chemopreventure agent and a possible explanation for the so-called \"French paradox\"--the low incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among the French, a people with a high-fat diet as a consequence of moderate consumption of red wine (RW) during meals--and its cardioprotective properties are well-known [1; 4]. RSV is mainly administered as a food supplement, and its properties are evaluated in vitro or in vivo on various experimental models. RSV has potential beneficial effects in various diseases, e.g., neoplastic diseases; Alzheimer's disease (AD); Parkinson's disease (PD); diabetes, obesity; CVDs (hypertension); osteoporosis; and bacterial, viral, and fungal infections (Figure 1) [5; 6; 7]. In particular, RSV has been found to affect the expression of several genes, including genes encoding cytokines, caspases, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), adhesion molecules, and growth factors. Moreover, RSV can modulate the activity of several signaling pathways, such as phosphatidylinositol 3\({}^{\prime}\)-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, Wnt, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB), and Notch [1; 8; 9]. Figure 1: Overview of biological activity and applications of resveratrol.