FRIDAY, June 25 (HealthDay News) -- A compound found in red wine and
grapes inhibits the growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) associated
with eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic
retinopathy, researchers have found.
Resveratrol, which is produced by a variety of plants to fight
bacterial and fungal infections, is found in particularly high levels in
grape skin and at lower levels in blueberries, peanuts and other
plant-based foods.
Previous research has shown that resveratrol can decrease the effects
of aging and act as an anti-cancer agent. In this new study, researchers
found that resveratrol inhibits harmful blood vessel growth in the eye.
They also identified the specific pathway through which the compound
achieves this effect and found that specific inhibitors could reverse the
angiogenesis-blocking power of resveratrol.
The study appears in the July issue of the American Journal of
Pathology.
The findings may improve understanding of angiogenesis in eye disease,
cancer and atherosclerosis and lead to new treatments for these
conditions, Dr. Rajendra S. Apte, of Washington University School of
Medicine in St. Louis, and colleagues stated in a news release from the
journal's publisher.
More information
The U.S. National Eye Institute has more about age-related macular degeneration.
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