Resveratrol Could Help Treat Multiple Types of Cancer:Study

A team of researchers in a new study uncovered the cancer fighting properties of the natural antioxidant compound, resveratrol

Researchers at the University of Missouri reveal that resveratrol, the antioxidant compound found in grape skins and red wine, makes certain tumor cells more amenable to radiation treatment. The researchers studied melanoma cells.

"Our study investigated how resveratrol and radiotherapy inhibit the survival of melanoma cells. This work expands upon our previous success with resveratrol and radiation in prostate cancer. Because of difficulties involved in delivery of adequate amounts of resveratrol to melanoma tumors, the compound is probably melanoma at this time," Michael Nicholl, MD, School of Medicine and surgical oncologist at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center in Columbia,Mo., said in a press statement.

In the new study the researchers found out that melanoma cells were more accepting of  radiation if they were initially treated with resveratrol. On treating cancer with resveratrol alone, almost 44 percent of the tumour cells were killed. On treating the cancer cells with a combination of resveratrol and radiation,  a 65 percent reduction in tumor cells was noticed.

This novel discovery could support further research into cancer-fighting benefits of naturally occurring compounds. The next step for the researchers is to develop a successful technique to deliver these compounds to the tumor sites. The naturally occurring compound resveratrol can be used to treat several types of cancer. Despite melanoma being complicated in nature due to the manner in which these cancer cells travel throughout the body, the researchers predict that resveratrol can be combined with radiation to treat sympotamatic metastatic tumors, which develop in the brain or bone.

People can get access to resveratrol supplements over the counter in several health food sections at grocery stores.

Resveratrol has been generating a lot of buzz around the health care industry. A recent study showed resveratrol might prove to be a potential weapon in fighting certain types of cancer as well as leukemia.

The new finding was documented in the Journal of Surgical Research.