Resveratrol may protect the pancreas from inflammation

In this study rats were split into 3 groups - one group had nothing done to it, the second group was injected with a chemical that causes severe acute pancreatitis, and the third group also received the toxic injection but was first treated with resveratrol. Damage to the pancreas increased after the injection and so did serum amylase, and the level of malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase in the pancreas while the level of protective Superoxide Dismutase fell. However pre-treating with Resveratrol decreased lipid peroxidation in the pancreas, lowered serum amylase, there were less severe pancreatic lesions, less infiltration of immune cells within the pancreas, and normal levels of malondialdehyde in the pancreas. The study is published in the January 7th, 2006 issue of the World journal of Gastroenterology.

Commentary by Jerry Hickey, R.Ph.

Hopefully none of us will encounter an agent as destructive as mustard gas, but it is good for us to note that these particular antioxidants are very lung friendly and that available oral supplement levels have shown protective activity in research.

Melanoma causes the most skin cancer-related deaths, and this is due to metastasis. Structural changes in the extracellular matrix such as its break down are necessary for the cancer to travel. Human melanoma was implanted in nude mice. A group of the mice was given a combination of Green Tea Extract, Vitamin C, Lysine, Proline, and Arginine along with their regular diet. The combination of Green Tea extract, Vitamin C and Amino Acids decreased the growth of melanoma by 57% without any adverse effects. The combination inhibited matrix metalloproteinases, and VEGF secretion by the melanoma cells in a separate laboratory analysis. In the lab the combination inhibited the growth of the cells by 64% to 95% depending on the concentration. The study is published in the January-February 2006 issue of the journal In Vivo

Nude mice - mice used in cancer research - they lack a thymus gland and T cell lymphocytes (and are hairless) and because of this have no immune protection - it is very easy to inject them with human cancer cells and cause the growth of cancer.
Extracellular matrix - it is the material surrounding cells and is a complex of polysaccharides like glycosaminoglycans (think Chondroitin type substances) along with collagen and other proteins. Proteins
Matrix metalloproteinases - enzymes that can degrade the extracellular matrix
VEGF - vascular endothelial growth factor can cause new blood vessel growth for tumors to break out of an existing site and travel through, and also helps them proliferate