Resveratrol blocks eicosanoid production and chemically-induced cellular transformation: Implications for cancer chemoprevention

Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is a naturally occurring compound shown to inhibit 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced preneoplastic lesions in mouse mammary organ culture and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-promoted mouse skin tumors. It has been postulated that resveratrol may inhibit tumorigenesis in mouse skin through interference with reactive oxidant pathways, and possibly by modulating the expression of c-fos and TGF-beta 1. The chemopreventive potential of resveratrol was further examined by investigating its effect on cyclooxygenase (COX) metabolites monitored by HPLC analysis. Resveratrol was found to inhibit the generation of arachidonic acid metabolites catalyzed by both COX-1 and COX-2. In addition, this compound significantly inhibited malignant transformation induced by chemical carcinogens ill the mouse C3H10T1/2 cell culture system. These data serve to corroborate the cancer chemopreventive potential of resveratrol.