Red wine as a health boost

The French discover other substances with possible anti-tumor effects

The latest news for red wine lovers sounds promising: French researchers have found more polyphenols in dark grape juice that could have anti-cancer effects, the researchers report. It was known that polyphenols give red wine its characteristic bitter aroma, and the researchers reported earlier that these substances are also said to prevent heart disease and atherosclerosis. http://www.iecb.u-bordeaux.fr

French researchers working with Stephane Quideau have now discovered other representatives of the polyphenols in red wine, which are formed when maturing in oak barrels. Polyphenols are a large group of substances that include tannins and coloring agents in many fruits and vegetables, such as tannins and flavonoids. "Many of these substances have already found their way into medicine, but the potential is far from being exhausted," explains Quideau. The researchers have now discovered another interesting compound in red wine, Acutissimin A. The substance is a so-called flavano-ellagitannin and thus has both a flavonoid and a tannin component. The substance was first found in a species of oak.

In laboratory tests, the researchers were able to determine that acutissimin A can be used in cancer therapy because it has an inhibitory effect on DNA topoisomerase II. "The grape juice brings the flavonoid precursors catechin and epicatechin with it. During storage, the alcoholic liquid then extracts a whole bouquet of substances from the oak barrels," explains the expert. Although the researchers are impressed by the effect of the substances, they do not automatically attest that red wine has a preventative effect against cancer. In all probability, however, red wine also contains other tannin hybrid molecules that have interesting pharmacological effects.

Source: Pessac / Bordeaux [ pte ]