Creation of Resveratrol-Enriched Rice for the Treatment of Metabolic Syndrome and Related Diseases

Abstract

Resveratrol has been clinically shown to possess a number of human health benefits. As a result, many attempts have been made to engineer resveratrol production in major cereal grains but have been largely unsuccessful. In this study, we report the creation of a transgenic rice plant that accumulates 1.9 µg resveratrol/g in its grain, surpassing the previously reported anti-metabolic syndrome activity of resveratrol through a synergistic interaction between the transgenic resveratrol and the endogenous properties of the rice. Consumption of our transgenic resveratrol-enriched rice significantly improved all aspects of metabolic syndrome and related diseases in animals fed a high-fat diet. Compared with the control animals, the resveratrol-enriched rice reduced body weight, blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol by 24.7%, 22%, 37.4%, 27%, and 59.6%, respectively. The resveratrol-enriched rice from our study may thus provide a safe and convenient means of preventing metabolic syndrome and related diseases without major lifestyle changes or the need for daily medications. These results also suggest that future transgenic plants could be improved if the synergistic interactions of the transgene with endogenous traits of the plant are considered in the experimental design.

Resveratrol-Enriched Rice Down-Regulates Melanin Synthesis in UVB-Induced Guinea Pigs Epidermal Skin Tissue

“…In previous report, long-term supplement of RR showed anti-obesity effects, as manifested by reduced body weights and abdominal fat volumes, without causing serious side effects . This previous study suggests that RR may be a natural source of biologically active resveratrol, showing a synergistic interaction between resveratrol and rice in the control of metabolic syndrome and related diseases (Baek et al, 2013).…”

“…Our collaborative group reported that RR might act against metabolic syndrome and related diseases (Baek et al, 2013;Baek et al, 2014). Interestingly, RR shows synergistic effects in comparison that of each resveratrol or rice alone (Baek et al, 2013;Baek et al, 2014). Several reports show that resveratrol decreases the expression of tyrosinase (Franco et al, 2012;Zheng et al, 2012;Bae et al, 2013;Park and Boo, 2013;Park et al, 2014), and Jun et al reported that gamma-oryzanol from rice extract dually inhibited cellular melanogenesis, too (Jun et al, 2012).…”

“…Baek et al reported that resveratrol-enriched rice might treat obesity in high-fat diet fed mice . Our collaborative group reported that RR might act against metabolic syndrome and related diseases (Baek et al, 2013;Baek et al, 2014). Interestingly, RR shows synergistic effects in comparison that of each resveratrol or rice alone (Baek et al, 2013;Baek et al, 2014).…”

Disease Occurrence in Transgenic Rice Plant Transformed with Silbene Synthase Gene and Evaluation of Possible Horizontal Gene Transfer to Plant Pathogens

“…In view of, about 40% of the world population consumes rice as staple food, development of rice varieties producing resveratrol which has functional value is very important (Baek et al, 2013). However, the assessment of possible changes in disease resistance should be evaluated before release of the transgenic variety to farmers.…”

“…This study was aimed to assess the difference of disease occurrence between transgenic rice variety, Iksan526 transformed with stilbene synthase gene (Baek et al, 2013) and nontransgenic rice varieties, Dongjin and Nampyeong in the field. Moreover, in view of the concerns about the transfer of engineered DNA from genetically engineered crop to plant pathogens, we investigated the possibility of horizontal gene transfer in natural or artificial infection conditions.…”