resveratrol
/rɛzˈvɛrətrɒl
/noun [mass noun] Chemistry
A polyphenol compound found in certain plants and in red wine, which has antioxidant properties and has been investigated for possible anti-carcinogenic effects.However, the beneficial metabolic effects of resveratrol have been clearly demonstrated in diabetic animal models....
- Indeed, in the laboratory resveratrol protects cells from cancerous change.
- Found in the skin of grapes, resveratrol belongs to a class of antioxidants produced by the plant to protect against infection.
Origin
1930s: blend of resin and veratrum (the plant from which the compound was first obtained) + -ol.