We need evidence-based medicines for chronic inflammation that are free of side-effects and wholesome for the body. Numerous studies have reported on the diverse therapeutic and anti-inflammatory properties of resveratrol. Inflammation in the digestive tract is a ubiquitous component of many chronic disorders; it’s reassuring to see these studies that confirm its biological activity against inflammation in the intestines.

Here we have a study just published in the European Journal of Pharmacology showing the effect of resveratrol in a model of ulcerative colitis, “a nonspecific inflammatory disorder characterized by oxidative and nitrosative stress, leucocyte infiltration and upregulation of inflammatory mediators.” The authors note that “Resveratrol is a polyphenolic compound found in grapes and wine, with multiple pharmacological actions, mainly anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumour and immunomodulatory activities.” They documented the positive effect of resveratrol on a number inflammatory signalling pathways, and observed that the “resveratrol group significantly attenuated the clinical signs such as loss of body weight, diarrhea and rectal bleeding improving results from disease activity index and inflammatory score.” Their conclusion: The “resveratrol diet represents a novel approach to the treatment of chronic intestinal inflammation.”

Here is a paper published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry that describes a beneficial effect not only on inflammation and tissue damage with colitis but also on the gut flora from even very small doses of resveratrol. In addition to that, they observed “Resveratrol significantly protected the colonic mucosa architecture, reduced body weight loss, diminished the induced anemia and reduced systemic inflammation markers, colonic mucosa prostaglandin E2, cycloxygenase-2, prostaglandin E synthase and nitric oxide levels.” Their conclusion: “These results reinforce the concept of resveratrol as a dietary beneficial compound in intestinal inflammation at doses possibly attainable with resveratrol-enriched nutraceuticals.”

One more paper, published in the Journal of Investigative Surgery, documents the beneficial effect of resveratrol on healing after colon surgery. The authors defined their task: “Since anastomotic [connecting two severed tubular parts] healing possesses paramount importance to prevent complications in colorectal surgery, the present study is aimed to evaluate the effect of RSV on the healing of experimental left colonic anastomoses.” Their findings and disclosure: “Histopathological analysis revealed that RSV (resveratrol) administration leads to a better anastomotic healing…Although the precise cellular mechanisms by which RSV enhances anastomotic wound healing is not clear, stimulation of neovascularization (new blood vessels), generation of collagen synthesis, inhibition of overinflammation, and restriction of oxidative injury seems to be of paramount importance.”