X-Message-Number: 29385
Subject: Resveratrol
References: <>
From: "Perry E. Metzger" <>
Date: Tue, 03 Apr 2007 11:12:06 -0400

 writes:
>
> Actually resveretrol is promising and available.
[...]
> Life Extension Institute sells it, and others  probably 
> do too.

I don't know who the Life Extension Institute might be, but
resveratrol is sold by Life Extension Foundation in quantities nearly
two orders of magnitude below the dose that appears to be effective in
lab animals. I'm unaware of anyone who is selling it to the general
public in quantities within striking range of sufficient for actual
activity, which is on the order of a grams or two of the pure
substance for a normal sized person. 20 milligrams isn't going to do
much -- you're wasting your money.

The compound itself is quite simple -- it is a substituted stilbene of
very low complexity, and is pretty easy to make to an organic
chemist. If it were widely sold, it could become quite cheap.

I am unaware of any real information on whether both the E and Z
isomers of the compound have the desired biological activity, but I
would naively guess that only the tested E (trans) version of the
molecule is desired. Persons storing such compounds for long periods
should be aware that stilbenes photoisomerize quite easily on exposure
to UV light between the E and Z forms, and the particular stilbene in
question is likely happy to engage in all sorts of undesired reactions
(among other things the phenyl rings are highly activated by the
substituting groups), so the substance should almost certainly be
stored well purified in dark containers in a cold place if long term
storage is desired. (Inert atmosphere would be best, but most people
can't manage that at home.)

Perry

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