New radiation protection technology: red wine
26 September 2008
Compounds in red wine may protect cells from radiation-related damage, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have found. The antioxidant resveratrol, found in red wine and in numerous plants, may help protect against radiation exposure. They gave acetyl-altered resveratrol to mice before exposure to radiation and discovered that the rodents' cells were protected from radiation-related damage. The team is conducting further studies to determine whether acetylated-resveratrol can help protect humans. Currently, there are no drugs on the market that can protect against or counteract radiation exposure, but the research has raised hopes among observers that one may be developed based on consumption of wine.