Resveratrol (a compound that can be found in raspberries, blueberries, grapes and wine) can prevent pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) through a protein called SIRT1 (silence information regulator 1) in vitro and in rat models, according to a new study led by researchers at Peking Union Medical College Hospital in China.

The compound has been shown to prevent the development of PAH in rat models, as it can activate SIRT1, a factor that has a cardiovascular protective role, regulating vascular endothelial homeostasis and endothelial dysfunction. SIRT1 has also been shown to regulate cell cycle factors and significantly inhibit vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and migration.

SIRT1 has a protective role against PAH and could be considered a potential treatment target, concluded the study, which was published in the journal BioMed Research International.