Wine-based antioxidantmay shield against radiation

What could be better? A little wine, a little cheese-with a side of radiation protection. University of Pittsburgh researchers are studying the radiation protective properties of resveratrol, a natural antioxidant commonly found in red wine and many plants.

Dr. Joel Greenberger and colleagues at Pitt's Center for Medical Countermeasures Against Radiation found that resveratrol,when altered with acetyl, shielded mouse cells from the effects of radiation. Greenberger's group had already made news in 2004 when it discovered the agent JP4-039, which can be delivered directly to mitochondria to resist radiation-induced cell death.

Greenberger's team released its latest findings on acetylated resveratrol at the 2008 American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology meeting in Boston.