GTC Biotherapeutics (fka GTCB)

[keitern]

Way OT:

Fall being harvest time, I have recently put up a batch of wine. I use these grapes collected from a michigan river nearby:
Vitis riparia Michx, also commonly known as River Bank Grape or Frost Grape, is a native American climbing or trailing vine, widely distributed from Quebec to Texas, and Montana to New England. It is long-lived and capable of reaching into the upper canopy of the tallest trees.

This particular grape is significant because of its content of Resveratrol.....
http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/jafcau/2006/54/i23/abs/jf061722y.html

Extremely high extractable amounts of resveratrol in berry skins [>100 g g-1 of skin fresh weight (FW)] and seeds (>20 g g-1 of seed FW) were observed on two rootstock cultivars obtained from hybrids of V. monticula × V. riparia. Extractable amounts of resveratrol in berries of rootstock cultivars that are the descendants of V. riparia were also very high.


(Resveratrol) has been identified as an antioxidant and anti-platelet aggregation (anti-clotting) agent and indicated in helping reduce the incidence of Coronary Heart Disease and stroke, reduce the incidence of stomach ulcers caused by the bacteria helicobacter pylori, improve bone density for post-menopausal women, reduce prostate enlargement in men, reduce the risk of diabetes, improve dental health and delay growth of some tumors and leukemias (more).

http://www.redwinebuzz.com/glossary_q-r.htm

Comparing diets among western countries, researchers have discovered that although the French tend to eat higher levels of animal fat, surprisingly the incidence of heart disease remains low in France.[1] This phenomenon has been named the French Paradox

I thought this was interesting and cool and I was pleased to find out that my favorite grape for winemaking also had potential health benefits.