Pterostilbene

Pterostilbene is one of the many aromatic hydrocarbons called stillbenes that is found in the skins of red grapes and blueberries. It is more abundant in blueberries however. It is also a derivative of resvertrol, which is an antioxidant compound that is now a popular nutritional supplement that has become well known for it’s cardiovascular and cancer fighting benefits. Pterostibene was identified as a compound in red sandalwood a long ago and was later identified in blueberries and red grapes. The most recent studies done on this compound have brought more knowledge about it. A chemist named Agnes Rimando at ARS’s Natural Products Utilization Research Laboratory in Oxford, Mississippi began experimenting with it in 1992 and found that Pterostilbene is a fungicidal and has the ability to lower blood glucose in diabetics. Pterostilbene is found abundantly in blueberries and is also found red grape skins and in the bark of the Indian Kino tree, as well as red wine, sparkleberries, loganberries and cranberries.

In 2002 it was also discovered, through experimentation with mice, that pterostilbene is as effective at fighting cancer as resveratrol and that it is also a proven to be a powerful antioxidant. More studies are being done now to identify other benefits to be gained by it. The recent studies also found pterostilbene to be able to help lower bad cholesterol levels and prevent heart disease. In fact its ability to lower cholesterol is as powerful to that of ciprofibrate. Ciprofibrate is a prescription drug used to lower cholesterol and triglycerides but this prescription drug has negative side affects and some people can not take it.

In a recent study involving rats, pterostilbene was found to inhibit pre-cancerous tumor growths in the colon. It also inhibits the genes that are involved in inflammation that can cause colon cancer. Pterostilbene effects gene expression and when it is combined with resveratrol it can activate a large array of genes in whose job it is to prevent disease. It has been discovered now that many of the same genes which help give extension to life span are favorably affected when plant extracts like resveratrol and pterostilbene are taken. It supports healthy blood lipids and triglyceride levels and as such it is good for cardiovascular health. Also, as people age their cognitive abilities decline as a natural part of the aging process, but with the addition of such plant substances as pterostilbene in the diet, cognitive decline can be lessened or actually reversed. Another benefit to be gained from pterostilbene is the fact that it also lowers blood glucose and as such is a powerful antidiabetic. One study done on rats proved that it can lower blood sugar levels as well as metformin, which is another well known antidiabetic agent. Because of this finding the suggestion is that pterostilbene is even a more powerful and beneficial compound than resveratrol.

Blueberry plants and red and black wine grapes produce chemicals called phytoalexins, which pterostilbene is. The red and black wine grapes have more pterostilbene in them than other types of grapes. Also, pterostilbene is 60 to 100 times stronger than resveratrol as an antifungal agent. Resveratrol and pterostilbene act together to boost each others gene expression. If you want to reduce the number of fat cells and increase fat oxidization, lower blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and find protection from cancer, resveratrol with pterostilbene is best taken together as a daily nutritional supplement. You can find theses supplements online and at your local health food stores. Many older Americans are beginning to take ptestilbene to help ehance memory and brain function.

Last updated on Jul 14th, 2010 and filed under Nutritional Information. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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