Resveratrol facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Resveratrol
Preferred IUPAC name 5-[(E)-2-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)ethen-1-yl]benzene-1,3-diol
Other names	trans-3,5,4′-Trihydroxystilbene; 3,4′,5-Stilbenetriol; trans-Resveratrol; (E)-5-(p-Hydroxystyryl)resorcinol; (E)-5-(4-hydroxystyryl)benzene-1,3-diol
Identifiers
CAS number	501-36-0
PubChem	445154
DrugBank	DB02709
KEGG	C03582
ChEBI	CHEBI:45713
RTECS number	CZ8987000
SMILES	Oc1ccc(cc1)\C=C\c2cc(O)cc(O)c2
InChI InChI=1/C14H12O3/c15- 12-5-3-10(4-6-12) 1-2-11-7-13(16)9- 14(17)8-11/h1-9,15- 17H/b2-1+
Properties
Molecular formula
Molar mass	0 g mol-1
Appearance	white powder with slight yellow cast
Melting point
Solubility in water	0.03 g/L
Solubility in DMSO	16 g/L
Solubility in ethanol	50 g/L
λmax	304nm (trans-resveratrol, in water) 286nm (cis-resveratrol, in water)
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)

Resveratrol is a natural substance found in many plants. It's like a plant's defense system! Plants make resveratrol when they are hurt or when tiny invaders like bacteria or fungi try to attack them. You can find resveratrol in foods like the skin of grapes, blueberries, raspberries, mulberries, and peanuts.

Many people take resveratrol as a dietary supplement. Scientists are studying it to see if it has health benefits. However, right now, there isn't strong proof that resveratrol helps people live longer or prevents serious diseases. While some foods like red wine contain resveratrol, it's important to remember that you can get this substance from healthier sources like grapes and berries.

What Does Resveratrol Do?

Scientists are very curious about resveratrol. They study it to see if it can help people stay healthy or fight diseases. However, it's important to know that most of these studies are still in early stages. As of 2026, there isn't strong proof that resveratrol has major health benefits for humans.

Resveratrol and Your Health

Many studies have looked at how resveratrol might affect different parts of our bodies.

Heart Health

Some research has explored if resveratrol can help with heart disease. So far, studies show that taking resveratrol supplements doesn't significantly change important markers for heart health. There's no clear evidence that it helps people who already have heart problems.

Fighting Illnesses

Scientists have also checked if resveratrol can help prevent or treat serious illnesses like cancer or diabetes. As of 2026, there is no strong evidence that resveratrol helps prevent cancer in humans. For diabetes, the research is limited and doesn't clearly show that resveratrol is useful.

Brain Function

There's some mixed information about resveratrol and how it affects our brains. Some studies suggest it might help with memory or mood. Other studies found no effect on how our brains work overall. More research is needed to understand this better.

Staying Young and Healthy

People often wonder if resveratrol can help us live longer or keep our skin looking young. As of 2026, there isn't enough evidence to say that resveratrol affects how long humans live. It also doesn't show significant effects on skin health or other signs of aging.

How Resveratrol Works (Simply)

When you eat foods with resveratrol, your body tries to use it. However, it's a bit tricky for your body to absorb a lot of it. Resveratrol gets changed very quickly in your liver and intestines. This means that not much of the original resveratrol actually makes it into your bloodstream to travel around your body. Scientists are still learning exactly how resveratrol interacts with our cells and what effects it might have.

The Science of Resveratrol

Resveratrol is a type of chemical compound. It can exist in two main shapes: cis- and trans-. Think of them like two different versions of the same puzzle piece. The trans- shape is the one usually found in plants.

How Resveratrol Changes

When the trans- form of resveratrol is exposed to ultraviolet light (like sunlight), it can change into the cis- form. This is a bit like how some things change when they are in the sun for too long!

The trans-resveratrol changing into the cis-form when exposed to light.

Resveratrol is quite stable when it's dry and stored properly. It stays well in grape skins even after they've been processed.

Important Things to Know

While resveratrol is natural, taking very large amounts, especially in supplements, can sometimes cause problems. Some people who took high doses (1000 mg or more daily for several weeks) reported feeling sick to their stomach, having stomach aches, gas, or diarrhea. These side effects usually happened with very high doses, much more than you would get from food.

Where Does Resveratrol Come From?

Resveratrol is a special compound that many plants make. It acts like a natural shield for them!

Resveratrol in Plants

Plants produce resveratrol when they are hurt or when tiny invaders like bacteria or fungi try to attack them. It's their way of protecting themselves. Some plants that make resveratrol include:

• Japanese knotweed
• Pine trees
• Concord grape vines
• Raspberries
• Mulberries
• Peanut plants
• Cocoa bushes
• Vaccinium shrubs, which give us blueberries, cranberries, and bilberries

Resveratrol in Foods

The amount of resveratrol in food can be different depending on the season or even the specific batch.

Grapes and Juices

Grapes are a well-known source of resveratrol, especially in their skins. Because red grapes are processed differently than white grapes, red grape products often have more resveratrol.

While wine contains resveratrol, grape juice is a great way for kids to get this compound from grapes. Red wines generally have more resveratrol than white wines because red wines are made with the grape skins, which hold most of the resveratrol.

Other Foods

You can also find resveratrol in other tasty foods!

Peanuts, especially when they are sprouted, can have a similar amount of resveratrol to grapes. Mulberries are another good source, especially their skins.

A Look Back in Time

Resveratrol was first mentioned in a Japanese article in 1939 by Michio Takaoka. He found it in a plant called Veratrum album. Later, in 1963, it was found in the roots of Japanese knotweed.

In 2004, a professor named David Sinclair helped start a company called Sirtris Pharmaceuticals. This company focused on creating a resveratrol product. Sirtris was later bought by a larger company, GlaxoSmithKline, in 2008. However, it closed down in 2013 without successfully developing a new medicine.

See also

• Phenolic compounds in wine
• Polyphenol antioxidant
• List of phytochemicals in food
• Phytochemistry
• Secondary metabolites