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.