Since the origino f the civilization the wine is present, and not only as a drink or a side order, but for its medicinal advantages.

The egyptians, greeks and romans turned the wine into a basic element in their pharmacy. For it is a stable liquid, because of the alcohol and organic acids in it. This tradition was recognized for medieval scientists.

In March, 1988, during 3 days, doctors, researchers and specialists of wine, proceding from several countries from Europe and United States, got together in Mendoza – Argentina, to talk about the theme “The Wine and Health”.

The relation between wine and alcoholism didn´t remain for a long time. The thesis was broken when it was shown the low level of alcoholism in the regions where the wines were produced and the countries where the wine was more frequently consumed. On the other hand, medical researches already done and others still going on, let give the wine clear nutritional value and prevented medicine. It fights against heart diseases and cholesterol, it has antiviral effect, stimulate the appetite, turn the digestion easier and it is good to the cells, besides facilitating the urine. According to the Research Staff of the Chemical College of PUC-RS, which is researching about the resveratrol in wines, the main benefits of the wine are:

According to Jack Masquelier, reconized professo of the college of medicine and Pharmacy in Bordeaux II – France, the wine really should be used to prevent in medicine, specially for heart illness. The alcohol is not good for the immunity, but the wine has some properties which makes it not toxic. In labs, it was proved that the wine really has this properties which helps the cells to remain young, holding the aged of them.The procianidinas acts on the vascular endotelio, make the fibers stronger.

Rane Monasterski, Ph.D. for the Mt. Sinai Hospital, Los Angeles, specialist in cardiology at the Hospital Argerich, Buenos Aires, says that a moderate consume of wine is good for digestion. It is also good for the walls of the veins, protecting them. The wine doesn´t elevate the pressure, so it can be recommended to patients with problem of pressure. The wine also changes the composition of the blood. One or two glasses of wine a day is good for health. For those who have diabetes it is recommended not to drink wine or do it, but carefully. The problem is to increase the cholesterol of those who have diabetes.

Os principais médicos e pesquisadores presentes em Mendonza foram os seguintes:

Jack Masquelier - Prof. of the College of Medicine and Pharmacy of the University of Bordeaux II - France

Francisco Jimenez Pasqua - Director of the Sanatorium of Nutrition Gimenes Gracia in Madrid - Spain

Mário Castino - Prof. of the Institute Sperimental for L’Enologia in Asti, Italy;
Raul Monasterski – Specialist in Cardiology, Argentina;

RESVERATROL

Among the wine´s substances which have benefit actions, we have the resveratrol. It is a substance against fungus, produced by the answer of the fungus Botrytis cinerea attack. The plant creates its proper remedy.

This substance concentrates in the cells of the grape membrane, that’s why its content i greater than in red wine. This fenolic compound, acts as an antioxidant substance. There are several others antioxidant in lesser amount.
The fitolexin diminishes the serum lipidic levels, and plaquet aggregation, causing fraction of HDL cholesterol, that helps to remove the LDL cholesterol from the blood and prevent an artery obstruction. The molecular structure of resveratrol is similar to an synthetic strogen, the diethyl-stirestrol; therefore resveratrol has similar pharmacological properties tostradiol, the main human strogen .

The strogenic properties of resveratrol develops as important role in cardiovascular effects, having red wine. Many researches advise to add it to ones’ habits for its anticarcinogenic and antisclerotic properties. Resveratrol acts on some genes, balancing strogen better than stradiol. Available selective strogen are used for breast câncer (Tamoxifen) and osteoporosis after menopause (Reloxifen).

The human body has some kind of acids, which are the main components of the low density of the blood.

The LDL are carries the cholesterol, one of the main things of the cell´s wall. The oxidation of lipids LDL block the function of transport and products of this oxidation may bring problems. Among them, the out of place of the inside walls of the vein. This lesion brings accumulation of cells, and if it keeps happening, we see the degeneration of plates, symptom of arteriosclerosis.

The main clinical treatments look for a reduction of LDL in the blood, which reduces the chances of future problems in people hearts and veins. Some other alternatives looked for the medicine is the interference on the oxidative process through diets rich in antioxidants. It is in this action for the phenolic action of protection of diseases of the heart and vein, and câncer, for a lot of mechanisms. Among them we can quote the capture of free radicals, reduction of the activity of oxidative enzymatic and the reduction of the concentration of peroxidatics lipids in the plasma of the blood.

Recent studies conclude the antioxidant molecule from the grape, can be found in the plasma after the moderate consume of the wine, and are resposible for a protection significative to prevent diseases in people´s hearts and veins.

The resveratrol is known for a long time for therapy, being used for Chineses and Japoneses on treatment of arteriosclerosis, alergic and infflamatory diseases. Its features poliphenolic aloud to explain its activities not to gather plaquets, besides the particularity on reducing fat.

In 1995, french researches and americans proved the absortion of catequins in the human blood, it happens right after the consuming of red wine. The study of teams of the Clinic and Geriatric of PUC-RS, analise the presence and the quantity of resveratrol in brazilian wines. This is an unheard-of research, for the brazilian wines had never analised before for the presence and quantity of this substance, and it has being developed in Veranopolis, in the mountain, called the Capital of Health and Longevity, there the expectations of life is 77,7 years old, while the age average in Brazil is 67,6 years old. Besides that there was a reduction of deaths for heart problems. The city is considered the model for longevity by the World Health Organization. The research is going to measure the quantity of resveratrol of the grape and of the wine, and compare with the quantity found in the blood of the people who lives there.

The magazine “Isto É” of April 7th from 1999, publishes that the producers of wine from Napa Valley, in California, celebrate the permission given for the American government that makes that the wine produced there brings the statement: “One or two glasses of wine a day is good for people´s health”.