Overview
The grape seed resveratrol is a promising cancer chemopreventive agent. It has been shown to exert an antitumor effect on breast cancer cells in vivo, according to the Stanford University's Knowledge Systems, AI Laboratory. Resveratrol is also considered a plant-based estrogen called phytoestrogen because it has structural similarities to that of endogenous estrogen. Be sure to check with your doctor to see if resveratrol is safe for you, however.
Nuclear Factor Kappa B Protein
The National Cancer Institute has confirmed that resveratrol can reduce tumor incidence and prolong survival in animal models. It is thought to inhibit breast cancer progression by blocking the activation of the protein NF--kB, although the mechanism by which resveratrol inhibits NF--kB activation is unclear. (ref.3) Nuclear factor kappa B, or NF--kB, signaling plays an important role in the immune system development. Aberrant activation of NF--kB, however, can initiate inflammation-associated cancer development.Inhibition of Oxidative Cell Damage
Resveratrol is a polyphenol that has strong antioxidant properties. The antioxidant capacity of resveratrol protects cells from the harmful side effects of free radicals, or unstable oxygen molecules. Science has long held that cellular damage caused by reactive oxygen species is behind the development of cancer. In vivo, resveratrol may also kill breast cancer cells via induction of tumor cell apoptosis, according to a study published online in the May 2005 edition of the journal "Molecular Nutrition & Food Research."
Breast Cancer Metastasis
Metastatic breast tumors are responsible for more than 90 percent of breast cancer mortality. Metastasis means your breast cancer has spread from the site of origin to other organs such as the lung, liver or brain, or to lymph nodes. Resveratrol inhibits PI-3k/Akt signaling in breast cancer, according to research conducted by F.Y. Tang and colleagues of the Biomedical Science Laboratory at the China Medical University, Taiwan, which was published online in 2008 in the journal "Molecular Nutrition and Food Research." PI-3k/Akt signaling pathway participates in breast cancer invasion and metastasis by enhancing cell motility.
Dosage and Precautions
The dose of resveratrol for optimal inhibition of breast cancer is not known. Data from animal studies indicate that a daily dose of 500 mg may be safe and potent. There have been persistent concerns about the estrogen-like actions of resveratrol. Since some breast cancers are estrogen responsive, the estrogenic activity of resveratrol may stimulate the development of existing breast tumors, according to New York University Langone Medical Center.
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