[Resveratrol--evaluation of anticancer activity].

Resveratrol (3, 4',5-trihydroxystilbene) is a natural polyphenol isolated from many plants widely used in human diet e.g. in grapes and red wine. Many experimental studies have revealed the resveratrol ability to interfere with all the stages of carcinogenesis to suppress growth of many chemical-induced and spontaneous tumors in normal and transgenic rodents. Furthermore, the substance inhibited local growth and dissemination of some transplantable tumors in laboratory animals. Due to its valuable biological properties and lack of significant side effects after long-term administration it seems that resveratrol is one of the most promising agent which could be applied in the feature in cancer prevention and therapy in humans.