Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Resveratrol

Resveratrol (RSV), a naturally occurring phytoalexin polyphenolic compound, continues to attract the attention of researchers due to its therapeutic potential, including anti-inflammatory effects. The focus of this work is to critically review RSV's anti-inflammatory effects at cellular and molecular levels and its clinical and physiological implications as elucidated by in vivo and in vitro studies to identify some unresolved issues. Reference was made to the dietary recommendations of RSV, its poor bioavailability, and high metabolism, limiting the therapeutic use of RSV and requiring formulation strategies for improving its clinical usefulness. Issues related to the interpretation of the results of studies on the anti-inflammatory activity of RSV were also discussed. The cellular response to RSV and the probable molecular pathways associated with it were analyzed separately. Another point for further investigation is the fact that not all the effects found in vitro or in animal models are replicated in clinical studies.