In vitro protective effects of resveratrol against oxidative damage in human erythrocytes

Resveratrol (RV) is a potent antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory agent. Its main target of action is the cell membrane; however, its effect on that of human erythrocytes has been scarcely investigated. With the aim to better understand the molecular mechanisms of the interaction of RV with cell membranes both human erythrocytes and molecular models of its membrane have been utilized. The latter consisted in bilayers of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DMPE), representative of phospholipid classes located in the outer and inner monolayers of the erythrocyte membrane, respectively. Results by X-ray diffraction showed that RV produced a significant structural perturbation on DMPC bilayers, but no effects were observed in DMPE. Scanning electron (SEM) and defocusing microscopy (DM) observations showed that RV induced morphological alterations to the red cells from the normal discoid shape to echinocytes. These results imply that RV was located in the outer monolayer of the erythrocyte membrane. Results of its antioxidant properties showed that RV neutralized the oxidative capacity of HClO on DMPC and DMPE bilayers. On the other hand, SEM and DM observations as well as hemolysis assays demonstrated the protective effect of RV against the deleterious effects of HClO upon human erythrocytes.