Maybe you’ve heard about the benefits of moderate wine or chocolate consumption… Maybe you look at the ingredients in your cosmetics and see that some products contain grape extracts! What do wine and cosmetics have in common? Resveratrol, a natural antioxidant.
Resveratrol, an antioxidant
Resveratrol is a polyphenol, a compound with antioxidant properties. It is naturally present in some fruits such as grapes and their derivatives, such as grape juice and wine, red fruits and cocoa.
However, over the years other properties of resveratrol have been studied, such as its antioxidant properties, ideal for anti-aging treatments,
Discover how resveratrol works and why we chose to add it to our cream Nº4 Corail blanc
The Origins of Resveratrol
Resveratrol is named after the white vine, a tree from Japan, from which it was first extracted in 1939. Twenty years later it was isolated from eucalyptus and in 1963 it was found in the root of Japanese seaweed. It should also be noted that all three are active ingredients used for centuries in traditional Asian medicine.
In 1976, resveratrol was isolated from grape skins and in 1992 it was identified in wine. The origin of resveratrol is surprising: it appeared following a reaction of the vine to contamination by a fungus, and it was discovered that the presence of resveratrol in grapes attempted to locally contain the damage of this environmental “stress”.
Dalla fine degli anni ’90, gli studi sulle proprietà del resveratrolo sono proseguiti senza sosta; ora sappiamo dove si concentra, i meccanismi responsabili delle sue virtù e le dosi ideali per ottenerne i benefici.
Where is resveratrol found?
In grapes and their derivatives
Resveratrol is present in the seeds, skin and stem of grapes. The highest concentrations of antioxidants are found in this skin. It has also been isolated from fresh and dried fruit and some of its derivatives, such as grape juice and wine.
- Fresh grapes have a resveratrol content of approximately 1.3-1.5 mg per kg.
Red and pink grapes contain more resveratrol than white grapes. The cultivation method also plays a role in its content: it is partially destroyed by pesticides, so organically grown grapes are richer in resveratrol.
- For dried grapes, the content is generally a little higher: 1.9 mg per kg.
- Grape juice contains from 0.02 mg per litre (from white grapes) to 1.30 mg per litre (from red grapes).
- Wine is also rich in resveratrol. Its concentration depends on the grape variety, the terroir and the duration of maceration.
White and lightly fermented wines contain the least resveratrol (0.06 to 0.13 mg per liter), rosés have an average content, and reds are the richest, with a content that can vary from 6 to 11 mg of resveratrol per liter of wine. Organic wines are even richer than their conventional counterparts.
The wines with the highest resveratrol content are Pinot Noir, Merlot, Grenache and Mourvèdre. French and Swiss red wines are very rich in resveratrol, followed by those from Australia, Italy, Spain and the United States.
Cocoa
Cocoa beans are the second most well-known source of resveratrol. The higher the cocoa content in chocolate, the higher the antioxidant content.
Dark chocolate contains 0.4 mg of resveratrol per kg.
Berries
Blackberries, blueberries and cranberries also have an interesting resveratrol content.
On average, fresh berries provide 0.3 mg of resveratrol per kg.
Other food sources:
- Peanuts: Resveratrol is found in the thin red skin. The content is 0.15 mg per kg in natural peanuts (with skin) compared to 0.03 mg per kg in roasted peanuts.
- Sorghum: a forgotten cereal, but which can be used to produce flour, bread and cereals. Its resveratrol content is 0.1 mg per kg.
- Rhubarb and pomegranate also provide small amounts of resveratrol.
Medicinal plants rich in resveratrol
- Reynoutria japonica or Japanese knot, a plant native to Asia, whose root is used in Chinese medicine (under the name of shimangcao) and Japanese medicine (under the name of itadori or kojôkon). It is one of the richest sources of resveratrol: the root contains 3 to 3.8 g per kg and the infusion provides approximately 9.7 mg per liter.
- Veratrum album and Veratrum formosanum are other traditional Chinese medicine plants whose roots and rhizomes are rich in resveratrol.
How much resveratrol should you consume per day?
Based on current scientific evidence, resveratrol doses are usually 50-100 mg per day, with a maximum safe dose of 250 mg per day. This dose can sometimes vary based on individual needs.
The proposed resveratrol treatment cycles last three months.
In fact, as you can see, resveratrol exists in the form of trans-resveratrol, the bioactive and most stable form of this antioxidant.
As a dietary supplement, it is traditionally available in the form of capsules or tablets, and the market is starting to expand: gelatin capsules are being replaced by vegetable capsules, there are trans-resveratrol powders and even “gummies” (sugar-free jellies), following the current trend of this type of supplement.
In anti-aging cosmetics, resveratrol is available as a serum, highly concentrated, or as a cream, more hydrating, but with less active ingredient.
It is also important to know that resveratrol works in synergy with vitamins A, C and E, omega-3 fatty acids, quercetin, turmeric and pycnogenol (extracted from the bark of the maritime pine or heather). For this purpose, it is possible to find food supplements or cosmetic products containing these antioxidant mixtures.
Its antioxidant power is the reason why we have chosen to use a high concentration of it in our cream:
And even if their content is low, it is advisable to regularly consume foods rich in resveratrol: grapes, dark chocolate, blackberries, blueberries, peanuts, pomegranate... A natural synergy, thanks to its contribution of antioxidants and other nutrients: vitamins A and C, potassium and magnesium.
Can resveratrol be dangerous?
Resveratrol is generally well tolerated.
If you are undergoing heavy treatment, seek medical advice as resveratrol may interact with some medications.
It is important to remember that it is not advisable to drink red wine under the pretext of enjoying the benefits of resveratrol. Excessive alcohol consumption is linked to inflammation of the digestive system, liver disease, etc.
Unless advised by a doctor, resveratrol is not recommended for children or women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.