Resveratrol May Protect Plasma Proteins from Oxidation under Conditions of Oxidative Stress In Vitro

Proteins are vulnerable to oxidative stress; attack by reactive oxygen species causes oxidation and formation of carbonyl moieties, advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) and other undesired oxidation products. Resveratrol, a polyphenolic phytoalexin found abundantly in grapes and red-wine, is one of the most extensively studied natural products, with wide ranging biological activities including cardio-protective, neuro-protective, anti-aging, and anti-cancer. Most of the effects of these stilbenes are attributed to their antioxidant property. In the present study we have evaluated the role of resveratrol in the protection of plasma protein oxidation after induction of in vitro oxidative stress. Inducing oxidative stress by incubating with 10(-5) mol L-1 tert-butylhydroperoxide caused a significant elevation in plasma protein carbonyls (PCO) and AOPPs, and decrease in -SH groups. Presence of resveratrol protected proteins from oxidation, an effect which was concentration dependent. On the basis of our experiments and effects shown by resveratrol we substantiate existing evidence for the strong antioxidant property of resveratrol.