Bip-Activity of resveratrol, a potent anti-oxidant whose main target is the cell membrane
Resveratrol (RV) is a poly-phenol non flavonoid compound present in all strongly pigmented vegetable but in particular in the berries of Vitis vinifera. This substance has shown diverse biological activities such as: antitumoral, antioxidant and antiviral. In our laboratory we demonstrated that RV inhibits the replication of murine polyomavirus acting, plausibly, in the phase of viron penetration within the cell nucleus. At higher concentrations RV shows also also a significant cytotoxic effect. This complex dose-dependent behavior is not typical of RV; as a matter of fact data are present in literature showing that other natural substances behave in a very similar way, for instance curcumin and a semi-purified fraction of the whole neem oil. On the basis of the results previoulsy obtained in our laboratory, we hypothesized that the dose dependent of RV was to be ascribed to its properties to alter the permeability of the cell membrane. In this presentation we show the effects of this substance on the cell cycle and on the possibile alterations of the membrane parameters by biomolecular and buiphysical strategies suche as cytofluorimetry and electrorotation. The results presented here demonstrate tha the main target of RV is the cell membrane. Futher studies will validate the possibility of a clinical application of this compund in the treatment in antiviral and/or antiproliferattive diseases.