Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene), is a non-flavonoid polyphenol [6] naturally occurring in several foods and plants as red grapes (Vitis vinifera), where it is primarily found in the skin but also in its seeds, and also in the roots of hellebore (Veratrum album), from where it was originally isolated by Takaoka back in 1940 [7], and in more than other 70 plant species, among which we can mention berries and peanuts [1].

In spite nowadays it is widely known that Resveratrol may exert many health benefits, as for example stop breast cancer cell growth, increase longevity, be cardioprotective, neuroprotective [2], to treat pain, inflammation, tissue injury and even beneficial against coronary heart disease [1], something that was only found back in 1992, to reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases as Alzheimer's disease and since now another one, its susceptibility to be used as a radiation enhancer in the treatment of prostate cancer cells.

A University of Missouri researcher has discovered that Resveratrol can make prostate tumor cells more susceptible to radiation treatment, increasing the chances of a full recovery from all types of prostate cancer, including aggressive tumors. Image: Red grapes by Danny Molyneux under Creative Common license (CC BY 2.0).

RESVERATROL

Formula: 3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene
Occurrence: Red grapes, berries, peanuts, hellebore

Ammi Visnaga, also known in Egypt as Khella, has been used for many centuries for its beneficial effects on the treatment of certain affections, among others high blood pressure, kidney stones and some others. The reason of the effectiveness of this herb seems to be, following the latest news on the subject, the active constituents found on this herb, namely khellin and visnagin, which seem to be very effective on the treatment of those health disorders. Image: Ammi visnaga by Dwight Sipler under Creative Commons License (CC BY 2.0).

Visnagin, an active constituent found in Ammi visnaga, has been used as an herbal treatment for low blood-pressure and blocked blood vessel contraction by inhibition of calcium influx into blood cells.

AMMI VISNAGA

Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Ammi
Common name: Bisnaga, Toothpickweed, Khella.

Not so long ago we published an article about Broccoli and how one of the active constituents found in Broccoli, namely diindolylmethane (DIM), exerted anti-cancer properties that were, to say the least, quite promising. DIM is a compound that is produced naturally during the digestion of indole-3-carbinol, a molecule found in Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables of its family, the Brassicaceae or Cruciferae.

But this is not the only one, cruciferous vegetables as broccoli, kale and Brussels sprouts contain other important active constituents, as for example sulforaphane, an active constituent with powerful anti-cancer properties, phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and the already mentioned active metabolite of I3C (diindolylmethane DIM), all of them dietary components with cancer chemo-preventive activity [7,9]. This last one, diindolylmethane (DIM), has been recently subject of another study aimed on finding ways to combat triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Image: Brussels sprouts, ready to roast by Isaas Wedin under CC license (CC by 2.0).

BRASSICA OLERACEA

Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Brassica
Common name: Broccoli

In spite some of the properties and health benefits of Coconut oil have been extensively broadcasted by the media (fighting Alzheimer's disease for example), some others have not yet been mentioned, mainly due to the fact that they were so far "unknown properties" that coconut oil was never thought to exert.

One of this properties refers to the ability that Coconut oil has to fight certain types of bacteria, among them some strains of Streptococcus bacteria which are common inhabitants of the mouth [14].

It was already known that digested coconut oil is able to attack the bacteria causing tooth decay, however, it wasn't until now that researchers from Athione Institute of Technology found how enzyme-modified coconut oil strongly inhibited the growth of most strains of Streptococcus bacteria, including Streptococcus mutans, an acid-producing bacterium that is a major cause of tooth decay [14]. Image left: Coconut oil by Phu Thinh Co under Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0).

COCOS NUCIFERA

Family: Arecaceae
Genus: Cocos
Common name: Coconut