Polyphenols are a group of chemical substances found in plants. In addition to giving fruits and vegetables their brilliant colors, Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants, and many have powerful health benefits. Some polyphenols have been proven to have exceptional anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial properties. Plants such as grapes produce these compounds in response to environmental factors. In his book, The Longevity Factor, Dr. Joseph Maroon refers to polyphenols as "Xeno-Factors," from the term xenohormesis, a process in which the consumer (animal or human) receives the benefits of the polyphenols that the plant produced to fight the effects of drought, heat, cold, or fungus attack.

In rigid scientific studies polyphenols found in the skin of stressed red grapes have been shown to activate survival genes within animal cells to stabilize gene expression and DNA transfer. The result can be improved health and survival. This mechanism works through the activation of enzymes by plant polyphenol molecules. Once activated they have been found to act simultaneously on such complex processes as glucose and insulin production, fat metabolism and cell repair, to enhance an animal's chance of survival. To date, Resveratrol and Quercetin, both polyphenols found in red wine grapes, have been the most bioactive in these areas. Other studies now suggest other red grape polyphenols, in addition to Resveratrol and Quercetin, may also possess similar properties. In experiments ranging from the simple laboratory organisms such as yeast, to mammals such as mice, a "survival response" has been activated and shown to significantly increase lifespan. A number of human studies are now under way to investigate the effects on health and longevity of polyphenols on humans.

Studies now show that a natural combination of polyphenols, such as piceid, viniferin, Quercetin, and fisetin are found in red grapes, when added to Resveratrol, increases its effectiveness and absorption. Red grapes grown in humid, cool locations where fungus, a stress factor, is most common have the highest concentrations of these defensive phytoalexins.

References

Polypheonols in Wine May Help Prevent Cavities. This article discusses a fascinating study at the University of Rochester Medical School. The same anti-bacterial properties that can improve our health may also improve our teeth. More...

Grape Polyphenols Protect against Obesity. “This is the first time that chronic consumption of grape phenolics is shown to reduce obesity development and related metabolic pathways including adipokine secretion and oxidative stress,” wrote the Montpellier researchers, led by Jean-Max Rouanet, in the journal Molecular Nutrition and Food Research. More...

Polyphenols may offer diabetes benefits. Dietary supplementation with proanthocyanidins (CLPr) reduced blood glucose levels in obese diabetic mice, and may offer human diabetics significant benefits, says a new study from Japan. More...

Wine polyphenols found to be among the most efficient antioxidants. This study compared the oxygen radical scavenging ability of various polyphenols. More...

Wine Polyphenols Decrease Blood Pressure, Improve Vasodilatation, and Induce Gene Expression. A study at the French Pharmacologie et Physicochimie studied the effects of short-term oral administration of red wine polyphenolic compounds on hemodynamic parameters and on vascular reactivity in rats. More...