Induction of a reversible, non-cytotoxic S-phase delay by resveratrol: implications for a mechanism of lifespan prolongation and cancer protection

Applications of resveratrol in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer

Natural product compounds have lately attracted interest in the scientific community as a possible treatment for gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, due to their anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. There are many preclinical, clinical, and epidemiological studies, suggesting that the consumption of polyphenol compounds, which are abundant in vegetables, grains, fruits, and pulses, may help to prevent various illnesses and disorders from developing, including several GI cancers. The development of GI malignancies follows a well-known path, in which normal gastrointestinal cells acquire abnormalities in their genetic composition, causing the cells to continuously proliferate, and metastasize to other sites, especially the brain and liver. Natural compounds with the ability to affect oncogenic pathways might be possible treatments for GI malignancies, and could easily be tested in clinical trials. Resveratrol is a non-flavonoid polyphenol and a natural stilbene, acting as a phytoestrogen with anti-cancer, cardioprotective, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Resveratrol has been shown to overcome resistance mechanisms in cancer cells, and when combined with conventional anticancer drugs, could sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy. Several new resveratrol analogs and nanostructured delivery vehicles with improved anti-GI cancer efficacy, absorption, and pharmacokinetic profiles have already been developed. This present review focuses on the in vitro and in vivo effects of resveratrol on GI cancers, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms of action.

α-pinene regulates miR-221 and induces G2/M phase cell cycle arrest in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

The naturally occurring compound α-pinene induces cell cycle arrest and antitumor activity. We examined effects of α-pinene on cell cycle regulation in hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) cells to establish a foundation for its development as a novel treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HepG2 cells treated with α-pinene exhibited dose-dependent growth inhibition as a result of G2/M-phase cell cycle arrest. Cell cycle arrest was associated with down-regulated cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) and miR-221 levels and up-regulated levels of CDKN1B/p27, γ-H2AX, phosphorylated ATM, phosphorylated Chk2 and phosphorylated p53. Our observations are consistent with a model in which α-pinene inhibits miR221 expression, which leads to G2/M-phase arrest and activation of CDKN1B/p27-CDK1 and ATM-p53-Chk2 pathways that suppress human hepatoma tumor progression. Additionally, α-pinene was found to trigger oxidative stress and induce apoptosis of HepG2 cells. α-pinene, therefore, represents a potential chemotherapeutic compound for the treatment of HCC.

Differential sensitivities of bladder cancer cell lines to resveratol are unrelated to its metabolic profile

Resveratrol (RV) is a natural polyphenol compound with a wide range of activities, including inhibition of human bladder cancer (HBC) cell growth. Because RV is rapidly metabolized and has poor bioavailability, it is unclear whether the antitumor activity is due to RV or its metabolites. We therefore used liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy, qRT-PCR, immunocytochemistry and western blotting to evaluate the metabolic profile and biotransformation of RV in the T24 and EJ HBC cell lines. Both T24 and EJ cells generated the same RV metabolite, RV monosulfate (RVS), and both exhibited upregulation of the RV-associated metabolic enzyme SULT1A1 (sulfotransferase). Despite these similarities, T24 cells were more sensitive to RV than EJ cells, yet T24 cells exhibited no sensitivity to an RVS mixture (84.13% RVS). Primary rat bladder epithelial cells showed no adverse effects when exposed to a therapeutic dose (100 μM) of RV. The differences in RV sensitivity between the two HBC cell lines did not reflect differences in the RV metabolic profile or SULT1A1 expression. Because RV exhibited stronger antitumor activity and better safety than RVS, we conclude that RV has significant therapeutic potential for HBC treatment, provided individual differences are considered during clinical research and application.

Modulating Oxidative Stress Relieves Stress-Induced Behavioral and Cognitive Impairments in Rats

Background

Persistent psychological stress often leads to anxiety disorders and depression. Benzodiazepines and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are popular treatment options but have limited efficacy, supporting the need for alternative treatment. Based on our recent preclinical work suggesting a causal link between neurobehavioral deficits and elevated oxidative stress, we hypothesized that interventions that mitigate oxidative stress can attenuate/overcome neurobehavioral deficits.

Methods

Here, we employed the rat social defeat model of psychological stress to determine whether increasing antioxidant levels using grape powder would prevent and/or reverse social defeat-induced behavioral and cognitive deficits. Furthermore, a hippocampal-derived HT22 cell culture model of oxidative stress was employed to identify the individual beneficial constituent(s) of grape powder and the underlying mechanism(s) of action.

Results

Grape powder treatment prevented and reversed social defeat-induced behavioral and cognitive deficits and also decreased social defeat-induced increase in plasma corticosterone and 8-isoprostane (systemic and oxidative stress markers, respectively). And grape powder treatment replenished social defeat-induced depleted pool of key antioxidant enzymes glyoxalase-1, glutathione reducatse-1, and superoxide dismutase. Grape powder constituents, quercetin and resveratrol, were most effective in preventing oxidative stress-induced decreased cellular antioxidant capacity. Grape powder protected oxidative stress-induced cell death by preventing calcium influx, mitochondrial dysfunction, and release of cytochrome c.

Conclusions

Grape powder treatment by increasing antioxidant pool and preventing cell damage and death prevented and reversed social defeat-induced behavioral and cognitive deficits in rats. Quercetin and resveratrol are the major contributors towards beneficial effects of grape powder.

Multiple repair pathways mediate cellular tolerance to resveratrol-induced DNA damage

Resveratrol (RSV) has been reported to exert health benefits for the prevention and treatment of many diseases, including cancer. The anticancer mechanisms of RSV seem to be complex and may be associated with genotoxic potential. To better understand the genotoxic mechanisms, we used wild-type (WT) and a panel of isogenic DNA-repair deficient DT40 cell lines to identify the DNA damage effects and molecular mechanisms of cellular tolerance to RSV. Our results showed that RSV induced significant formation of γ-H2AX foci and chromosome aberrations (CAs) in WT cells, suggesting direct DNA damage effects. Comparing the survival of WT with isogenic DNA-repair deficient DT40 cell lines demonstrated that single strand break repair (SSBR) deficient cell lines of Parp1^-/-, base excision repair (BER) deficient cell lines of Polβ^-/-, homologous recombination (HR) mutants of Brca1^-/- and Brca2^-/- and translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) mutants of Rev3^-/- and Rad18^-/- were more sensitive to RSV. The sensitivities of cells were associated with enhanced DNA damage comparing the accumulation of γ-H2AX foci and number of CAs of isogenic DNA-repair deficient DT40 cell lines with WT cells. These results clearly demonstrated that RSV-induced DNA damage in DT40 cells, and multiple repair pathways including BER, SSBR, HR and TLS, play critical roles in response to RSV- induced genotoxicity.

Didox and resveratrol sensitize colorectal cancer cells to doxorubicin via activating apoptosis and ameliorating P-glycoprotein activity

Doxorubicin (DOX) has limited efficacy in colorectal cancer due to multi-drug resistance. Resveratrol (RES) and didox (DID) are polyhydroxyphenols with potential chemosensitizing effects. Herein, we assessed the chemomodulatory effects of RES and DID to DOX in colorectal cancer cells. Equitoxic combination of DOX with RES and DID in HCT 116 reduced the IC₅₀ of DOX from 0.96 ± 0.02 μM to 0.52 ± 0.05 μM and 0.4 ± 0.06 μM, respectively. Similarly, combination of DOX with RES and DID in HT-29 decreased the IC₅₀’s of DOX from 0.88 ± 0.03 μM to 0.47 ± 0.02 μM and 0.29 ± 0.04 μM, respectively. The expressions of p53 and Bax genes were markedly elevated in HCT 116 cells after exposure to DOX/DID. In HT-29 cells, the expression of Bcl-XL gene was significantly decreased after exposure to DOX/DID. In addition, combination of DOX with RES significantly increased the expression of Bax gene in HCT 116 cells. RES treatment induced significant S-phase arrest in DOX-treated HCT 116 cells, while DID induced G₂/M- and S-phase arrest in HCT 116 and HT-29, respectively. Both RES and DID significantly enhanced the intracellular entrapment of DOX due to blocking the efflux activity of p-glycoprotein pump. In conclusion, RES and DID sensitize colorectal cancer cells to DOX via facilitating apoptosis and enhancing intracellular entrapment of DOX.

Unraveling the Anticancer Effect of Curcumin and Resveratrol

Resveratrol and curcumin are natural products with important therapeutic properties useful to treat several human diseases, including cancer. In the last years, the number of studies describing the effect of both polyphenols against cancer has increased; however, the mechanism of action in all of those cases is not completely comprehended. The unspecific effect and the ability to interfere in assays by both polyphenols make this challenge even more difficult. Herein, we analyzed the anticancer activity of resveratrol and curcumin reported in the literature in the last 11 years, in order to unravel the molecular mechanism of action of both compounds. Molecular targets and cellular pathways will be described. Furthermore, we also discussed the ability of these natural products act as chemopreventive and its use in association with other anticancer drugs.

Resveratrol: challenges in analyzing its biological effects

Testing the biological activities of a dietary compound like resveratrol presents various challenges, which are highlighted in this commentary, with some suggested direction for future research, focusing on five challenges: (1) many different cellular effects are observed for resveratrol, but it is not known whether they arise from one point of action (or a few) or whether resveratrol is non-specific in its action; (2) the health-promotion effect of dietary resveratrol is likely a combinatory effect of various bioactive components in the mixture (diet); (3) the known cell biological response to resveratrol is presently based on exposure to short-term high levels, and better in vitro analyses have to be developed; (4) the actual level of resveratrol and resveratrol metabolites present in vitro and in vivo during experiments may be over- and underestimated, respectively, because resveratrol is not very soluble in water; and (5) only a few small clinical studies have been published to date, focusing on the therapeutic effects of resveratrol. Further, clinical trials addressing the disease-preventive effects are especially challenging.

Resveratrol differentially regulates NAMPT and SIRT1 in Hepatocarcinoma cells and primary human hepatocytes

Resveratrol is reported to possess chemotherapeutic properties in several cancers. In this study, we wanted to investigate the molecular mechanisms of resveratrol-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis as well as the impact of resveratrol on NAMPT and SIRT1 protein function and asked whether there are differences in hepatocarcinoma cells (HepG2, Hep3B cells) and non-cancerous primary human hepatocytes. We found a lower basal NAMPT mRNA and protein expression in hepatocarcinoma cells compared to primary hepatocytes. In contrast, SIRT1 was significantly higher expressed in hepatocarcinoma cells than in primary hepatocytes. Resveratrol induced cell cycle arrest in the S- and G2/M- phase and apoptosis was mediated by activation of p53 and caspase-3 in HepG2 cells. In contrast to primary hepatocytes, resveratrol treated HepG2 cells showed a reduction of NAMPT enzymatic activity and increased p53 acetylation (K382). Resveratrol induced NAMPT release from HepG2 cells which was associated with increased NAMPT mRNA expression. This effect was absent in primary hepatocytes where resveratrol was shown to function as NAMPT and SIRT1 activator. SIRT1 inhibition by EX527 resembled resveratrol effects on HepG2 cells. Furthermore, a SIRT1 overexpression significantly decreased both p53 hyperacetylation and resveratrol-induced NAMPT release as well as S-phase arrest in HepG2 cells. We could show that NAMPT and SIRT1 are differentially regulated by resveratrol in hepatocarcinoma cells and primary hepatocytes and that resveratrol did not act as a SIRT1 activator in hepatocarcinoma cells.

Proenergetic effects of resveratrol in the murine neuronal cell line Neuro2a

SCOPE

Energy deficit is a common characteristic of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. Adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key enzyme maintaining energy balance by regulating the cellular uptake of glucose, β-oxidation of fatty acids, and expression of glucose transporter 4. Since resveratrol has been shown to increase the activity of AMPK, we hypothesized that it might influence energy metabolism in a model neuron-like cell line, murine Neuro2a cells.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Resveratrol caused an elevation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and guanosine triphosphate (GTP) in a dose-dependent manner. The highest ATP and GTP levels achieved by treatment with resveratrol were 70.3 ± 8.2 nmol/mg protein (1.9-fold of control) and 27.2 ± 4.0 nmol/mg protein (1.7-fold of control), respectively, when cells were treated with 100 μM resveratrol for 6 h. Interestingly, increases in the total sum of all adenine nucleotides were found upon addition of resveratrol. Despite these increases in ATP, GTP, and the total adenine nucleotide pool, resveratrol treatment led to a decrease in glucose consumption and lactate release, suggesting that resveratrol does not increase energy production (e.g. via AMPK kinase activation) but rather inhibits energy-consuming processes.

CONCLUSION

Resveratrol increases the levels of ATP and GTP, but without creating an additional glucose demand.

Resveratrol inhibits the proliferation of neural progenitor cells and hippocampal neurogenesis

Resveratrol is a phytoalexin and natural phenol that is present at relatively high concentrations in peanuts and red grapes and wine. Based upon studies of yeast and invertebrate models, it has been proposed that ingestion of resveratrol may also have anti-aging actions in mammals including humans. It has been suggested that resveratrol exerts its beneficial effects on health by activating the same cellular signaling pathways that are activated by dietary energy restriction (DR). Some studies have reported therapeutic actions of resveratrol in animal models of metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders. However, the effects of resveratrol on cell, tissue and organ function in healthy subjects are largely unknown. In the present study, we evaluated the potential effects of resveratrol on the proliferation and survival of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) in culture, and in the hippocampus of healthy young adult mice. Resveratrol reduced the proliferation of cultured mouse multi-potent NPCs, and activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), in a concentration-dependent manner. Administration of resveratrol to mice (1-10 mg/kg) resulted in activation of AMPK, and reduced the proliferation and survival of NPCs in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Resveratrol down-regulated the levels of the phosphorylated form of cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (pCREB) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus. Finally, resveratrol-treated mice exhibited deficits in hippocampus-dependent spatial learning and memory. Our findings suggest that resveratrol, unlike DR, adversely affects hippocampal neurogenesis and cognitive function by a mechanism involving activation of AMPK and suppression of CREB and BDNF signaling.

Resveratrol protects mouse embryonic stem cells from ionizing radiation by accelerating recovery from DNA strand breakage

Resveratrol has elicited many provocative anticancer effects in laboratory animals and cultured cells, including reduced levels of oxidative DNA damage, inhibition of tumor initiation and progression and induction of apoptosis in tumor cells. Use of resveratrol as a cancer-preventive agent in humans will require that its anticancer effects not be accompanied by damage to normal tissue stem or progenitor cells. In mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC) or early mouse embryos exposed to ethanol, resveratrol has been shown to suppress apoptosis and promote survival. However, in cells exposed to genotoxic stress, survival may come at the expense of genome stability. To learn whether resveratrol can protect stem cells from DNA damage and to study its effects on genomic integrity, we exposed mESC pretreated with resveratrol to ionizing radiation (IR). Forty-eight hours pretreatment with a comparatively low concentration of resveratrol (10 μM) improved survival of mESC >2-fold after exposure to 5 Gy of X-rays. Cells pretreated with resveratrol sustained the same levels of reactive oxygen species and DNA strand breakage after IR as mock-treated controls, but repaired DNA damage more rapidly and resumed cell division sooner. Frequencies of IR-induced mutation at a chromosomal reporter locus were not increased in cells pretreated with resveratrol as compared with controls, indicating that resveratrol can improve viability in mESC after DNA damage without compromising genomic integrity.

Resveratrol enhances the cytotoxic profile of docetaxel and doxorubicin in solid tumour cell lines in vitro

OBJECTIVES

  Resveratrol, with its robust antioxidant activity, has frequently been suggested as potentially having activity in cancer prevention and some recent reports have indicated that it has cancer treatment potential for several types of neoplasia. It has been found to block p-glycoprotein and to protect against several chemotherapeutic agents' side effects. In this study, we assessed interactive characteristics of resveratrol with docetaxel and doxorubicin and further investigated molecular bases of this interaction in cells of three different solid tumour lines (MCF-7, HeLa and HepG2).

MATERIALS AND METHODS AND RESULTS

  Resveratrol per se was found to have anti-cancer properties, but with relatively low potency in all tested cell lines (IC(50) ranged from 35.1 to 83.8 μM). Doxorubicin and docetaxel showed IC(50) ranging from 0.48 to 0.72 μM and from 25.9 to 77.8 nM, respectively. Resveratrol in combination with doxorubicin and docetaxel significantly increased potencies of both chemotherapeutic agents showing IC(50) ranging from 0.12 to 0.34 μM and from 7.2 to 53.02 nM, respectively. The combination index showed synergistic interaction between resveratrol and doxorubicin or docetaxel on MCF-7 cells, and additive interactions on HeLa and HepG2 cells. Real time PCR revealed that expression of Bax and Bcl-2 was simultaneously elevated on combination of resveratrol with doxorubicin or docetaxel in all tested cell lines, whereas p53 exhibited marginal elevation in MCF-7 and HepG2 cells. In addition, p-glycoprotein efflux activity was significantly inhibited, with subsequent accumulation of p-glycoprotein substrate in intracellular compartments. Expression level of mdr1 gene was downregulated after resveratrol combined with doxorubicin or docetaxel in all tested cell lines.

CONCLUSION

  Resveratrol potentiates cytotoxic properties of both cancer drugs used in the study through increasing their intracellular level due to p-glycoprotein inhibition and downregulation of mdr1 gene.

Resveratrol interacts with estrogen receptor-β to inhibit cell replicative growth and enhance stress resistance by upregulating mitochondrial superoxide dismutase

trans-Resveratrol (RES) is one of a number of dietary polyphenols that have been reported to beneficially affect human physiology. Although numerous studies have attributed this to direct interactions between RES and histone deacetylases, recently the reliability of these results has been questioned. We have shown that the mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is substantially upregulated in RES-treated cells. Here we explore the mechanisms underlying this, showing that two of RES's more interesting effects, inhibition of replication and enhancement of stress resistance, are mediated by MnSOD upregulation in three cell lines: MRC5 human lung fibroblasts, C2C12 mouse myoblasts, and SHSY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. When small interfering RNA was used to prevent induction of MnSOD expression, the effects of RES on population doubling time of cells in culture, and resistance to cell death after exposure to hydrogen peroxide or paraquat, were abolished. Interestingly, the RES-induced upregulation of MnSOD levels could be prevented by the estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182780. RES's effects also could be reproduced using estradiol or the estrogen receptor-β agonist diarylpropionitrile, but not using the estrogen receptor-α agonist propylpyrazole triol. Thus, we suggest that RES interacts with estrogen receptor-β to induce the upregulation of MnSOD, which affects cell cycle progression and stress resistance. These results have important implications for our understanding of RES's biological activities and potential applications to human health.

Resveratrol protects leukemic cells against cytotoxicity induced by proteasome inhibitors via induction of FOXO1 and p27Kip1

BACKGROUND

It was reported recently that resveratrol could sensitize a number of cancer cells to the antitumoral effects of some conventional chemotherapy drugs. The current study was designed to investigate whether resveratrol could sensitize leukemic cells to proteasome inhibitors.

METHODS

Leukemic cells were treated with MG132 alone or in combination with resveratrol. Cell viability was investigated using MTT assay, and induction of apoptosis and cell cycle distribution was measured using flow cytometry. Western blot and real-time RT-PCR were used to investigate the expression of FOXO1 and p27Kip1. CHIP was performed to investigate the binding of FOXO1 to the p27 Kip1 promoter.

RESULTS

Resveratrol strongly reduced cytotoxic activities of proteasome inhibitors against leukemic cells. MG132 in combination with resveratrol caused cell cycle blockade at G1/S transition via p27Kip1 accumulation. Knockdown of p27Kip1 using siRNA dramatically attenuated the protective effects of resveratrol on cytotoxic actions of proteasome inhibitors against leukemic cells. Resveratrol induced FOXO1 expression at the transcriptional level, while MG132 increased nuclear distribution of FOXO1. MG132 in combination with resveratrol caused synergistic induction of p27Kip1 through increased recruitment of FOXO1 on the p27Kip1 promoter.

CONCLUSIONS

Resveratrol may have the potential to negate the cytotoxic effects of proteasome inhibitors via regulation of FOXO1 transcriptional activity and accumulation of p27Kip1.

Mechanism for the protective effect of resveratrol against oxidative stress-induced neuronal death

Oxidative stress can induce cytotoxicity in neurons, which plays an important role in the etiology of neuronal damage and degeneration. This study sought to determine the cellular and biochemical mechanisms underlying resveratrol's protective effect against oxidative neuronal death. Cultured HT22 cells, an immortalized mouse hippocampal neuronal cell line, were used as an in vitro model, and oxidative stress and neurotoxicity were induced in these neuronal cells by exposure to high concentrations of glutamate. Resveratrol strongly protected HT22 cells from glutamate-induced oxidative cell death. Resveratrol's neuroprotective effect was independent of its direct radical scavenging property, but instead was dependent on its ability to selectively induce the expression of mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (SOD2) and, subsequently, reduce mitochondrial oxidative stress and damage. The induction of mitochondrial SOD2 by resveratrol was mediated through the activation of the PI3K/Akt and GSK-3beta/beta-catenin signaling pathways. Taken together, the results of this study show that up-regulation of mitochondrial SOD2 by resveratrol represents an important mechanism for its protection of neuronal cells against oxidative cytotoxicity resulting from mitochondrial oxidative stress.

Growth-stimulatory effect of resveratrol in human cancer cells

Earlier studies have shown that resveratrol could induce death in several human cancer cell lines in culture. Here we report our observation that resveratrol can also promote the growth of certain human cancer cells when they are grown either in culture or in athymic nude mice as xenografts. At relatively low concentrations (</=5 microM), resveratrol exerted a significant growth-stimulatory effect in the MDA-MB-435s human cancer cells, but this effect was not observed in several other human cell lines tested. Analysis of cell signaling molecules showed that resveratrol induced the activation of JNK, p38, Akt, and NF-kappaB signaling pathways in these cells. Further analysis using pharmacological inhibitors showed that only the NF-kappaB inhibitor (BAY11-7082) abrogated the growth-stimulatory effect of resveratrol in cultured cells. In athymic nude mice, resveratrol at 16.5 mg/kg body weight enhanced the growth of MDA-MB-435s xenografts compared to the control group, while resveratrol at the 33 mg/kg body weight dose did not have a similar effect. Additional analyses confirmed that resveratrol stimulated cancer cell growth in vivo through activation of the NF-kappaB signaling pathway. Taken together, these observations suggest that resveratrol at low concentrations could stimulate the growth of certain types of human cancer cells in vivo. This cell type-specific mitogenic effect of resveratrol may also partly contribute to the procarcinogenic effect of alcohol consumption (rich in resveratrol) in the development of certain human cancers.

Resveratrol attenuates the anticancer efficacy of paclitaxel in human breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

It was reported recently that resveratrol could sensitise a number of cancer cell lines to the anticancer actions of several other cancer drugs, including paclitaxel. In the present study, we further investigated whether resveratrol could sensitise human breast cancer cells to paclitaxel-induced cell death. Unexpectedly, we found that resveratrol strongly diminished the susceptibility of MDA-MB-435s, MDA-MB-231 and SKBR-3 cells to paclitaxel-induced cell death in culture, although this effect was not observed in MCF-7 cells. Using MDA-MB-435s cells as a representative model, a similar observation was made in athymic nude mice. Mechanistically, the modulating effect of resveratrol was partially attributable to its inhibition of paclitaxel-induced G(2)/M cell cycle arrest, together with an accumulation of cells in the S-phase. In addition, resveratrol could suppress paclitaxel-induced accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequently the inactivation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins. These observations suggest that the strategy of concomitant use of resveratrol with paclitaxel is detrimental in certain types of human cancers. Given the widespread use of resveratrol among cancer patients, this study calls for more preclinical and clinical testing of the potential benefits and harms of using resveratrol as a dietary adjuvant in cancer patients.

Themed section: Advances in nutritional pharmacology. Editorial

A themed section in this issue of Br J Pharmacol, on 'Advances in Nutritional Pharmacology', provides a valuable and timely update on progress in this area. The value of dietary components to improvement in health and, particularly, to prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer, is frequently reported in the media and therefore often captures the attention of the wider public. Understanding the pharmacological mechanisms by which nutritional elements confer their health benefits enables us to keep the public informed, but also aids in the identification of new targets for drug development. In recent years there has been significant progress in this field. Four rapidly developing areas are reviewed. Vosper (2009) covers the identification of a receptor for niacin and the subsequent development of selective agonists as lipid lowering agents. Wu-Wong (2009) describes the development of new Vitamin D analogues for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. de Roos et al. (2009) provide detailed insight into how omega-3 fatty acids, also known as longchain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) protect against cardiovascular disease. Zhou et al. (2009) cover the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of resveretrol in protection against cancer. These reviews are complimented by three key original articles focusing on endogenous mechanisms of weight control involving endocannabinoids (Izzo et al., 2009), a circulating protein, the soluble leptin receptor (Zhang & Scarpace, 2009) and a treatment, zinc plus cyclo-(His-Pro) (CHP), known to increase insulin metabolism (Song et al., 2009).