Chaarani N, Mroweh R, Moghnieh R, Kheir Chahine M, Zaiter H, Abdulaal SY, Obeid N, Tlais M, Raheb J, Farhat H, Abdulaal R. Unconventional mechanisms of resveratrol in atherosclerosis prevention and management. World J Exp Med 2026; 16(1): 116771 [DOI: 10.5493/wjem.v16.i1.116771]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Mohamad Tlais, MD, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, Hazmieh, Beirut 1100, Dekwaneh, Lebanon. mmtlaiss22@gmail.com
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Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
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Minireviews
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This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Mar 20, 2026 (publication date) through Mar 20, 2026
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World Journal of Experimental Medicine
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2220-315x
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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Chaarani N, Mroweh R, Moghnieh R, Kheir Chahine M, Zaiter H, Abdulaal SY, Obeid N, Tlais M, Raheb J, Farhat H, Abdulaal R. Unconventional mechanisms of resveratrol in atherosclerosis prevention and management. World J Exp Med 2026; 16(1): 116771 [DOI: 10.5493/wjem.v16.i1.116771]
World J Exp Med. Mar 20, 2026; 16(1): 116771 Published online Mar 20, 2026. doi: 10.5493/wjem.v16.i1.116771
Unconventional mechanisms of resveratrol in atherosclerosis prevention and management
Nadim Chaarani, Riyad Mroweh, Razan Moghnieh, Mohammad Kheir Chahine, Hassan Zaiter, Saleh-Yezan Abdulaal, Nazih Obeid, Mohamad Tlais, Joy Raheb, Hadi Farhat, Razan Abdulaal
Nadim Chaarani, Riyad Mroweh, Razan Moghnieh, Mohammad Kheir Chahine, Nazih Obeid, Mohamad Tlais, Hadi Farhat, Razan Abdulaal, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, Beirut 1100, Dekwaneh, Lebanon
Hassan Zaiter, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut 1100, Dekwaneh, Lebanon
Saleh-Yezan Abdulaal, Department of Internal Medicine, Stadtkrankenhaus Korbach, Korbach 34497, Germany
Joy Raheb, Department of Internal Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44101, United States
Author contributions: Chaarani N conceived and designed the review, supervised the project, and approved the final outline; Mroweh R performed database searches, screened studies, and curated data; Moghnieh R contributed to study selection, synthesized mechanistic pathways, and drafted core sections; Kheir Chahine M interpreted findings, integrated pathways into the overall framework, and revised the discussion; Zaiter H developed the figure concept, prepared visualizations, and assisted with graphical refinement; Abdulaal SY organized tables, managed references, and handled manuscript formatting; Obeid N provided critical cardiovascular input, revised content for scientific accuracy, and refined the narrative; Tlais M edited for language and clarity, restructured sections for coherence, and finalized the abstract and conclusion; Raheb J drafted the introduction, provided background synthesis, and checked internal consistency; Farhat H and Abdulaal R appraised methodological quality, contributed to the clinical translation perspective, and performed final proofreading. All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Mohamad Tlais, MD, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, Hazmieh, Beirut 1100, Dekwaneh, Lebanon. mmtlaiss22@gmail.com
Received: November 20, 2025 Revised: December 3, 2025 Accepted: January 19, 2026 Published online: March 20, 2026 Processing time: 115 Days and 19.5 Hours
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is a progressive inflammatory disease and a major contributor to cardiovascular disease. Resveratrol (RES), a polyphenolic compound found in grapes and red wine, has been widely investigated for its protective effects on cardiovascular health. This review summarizes the mechanisms through which RES attenuates atherosclerosis, including its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and lipid-modulating effects. Experimental evidence indicates that RES inhibits nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells signaling, thereby reducing the expression of adhesion molecules such as vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and limiting immune cell infiltration into the arterial wall. Additionally, it counteracts oxidative stress by enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity and preventing low-density lipoprotein oxidation, a key event in foam cell formation. RES also promotes cholesterol efflux through adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporters, supporting high-density lipoprotein-mediated reverse cholesterol transport. Findings from in vitro, animal, and clinical studies suggest that RES can reduce atherosclerotic plaque development, improve endothelial function, and modulate lipid metabolism.
Core Tip: Resveratrol (RES) is a dietary polyphenol with pleiotropic anti-atherosclerotic actions that extend beyond conventional lipid lowering and antioxidant effects. This review synthesizes experimental evidence showing how RES stabilizes the endothelial barrier, remodels gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism, inhibits transforming growth factor-extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling, modulates connexin 43 and phosphatase and actin regulator-1, and suppresses proinflammatory cytokine and smooth muscle cell migration pathways. By mapping these unconventional molecular targets, we highlight RES as a multi-target candidate for preventing plaque formation and promoting vascular homeostasis.
