Stilbenoid

Stilbenoids are secondary products of heartwood formation in trees that can act as phytoalexins. Chemically they are hydroxylated derivatives of stilbene. Biochemically they belong to the family of phenylpropanoids and share most of their biosynthesis pathway with chalcones. [cite journal
author = V. S. Sobolev, B. W. Horn, T. L. Potter, S. T. Deyrup, J. B. Gloer
title = Production of Stilbenoids and Phenolic Acids by the Peanut Plant at Early Stages of Growth
journal = J. Agric. Food Chem.
year = 2006
volume = 54
issue = 10
pages = 3505–3511
doi = 10.1021/jf0602673 S0021-8561(06)00267-6 ]

An example of stilbenoids is reservatrol which is found in grapes and which has been suggested to have many health benefits. [cite journal
author = Jang MS, Cai EN, Udeani GO
title = Cancer chemopreventive activity of resveratrol, a natural product derived from grapes
journal = Science
year = 1997
volume = 275
issue = 5297
pages = 218–220
url =
doi = 10.1126/science.275.5297.218 ]

Phytoalexin properties

They have been suggested by some studies to be responsible for resistance to some tree diseases, such as pine wilt.

ee also

*Pinosylvin
*Resveratrol
*Pterostilbene
*Piceatannol

References

1. Hillis WE (1987) Heartwood and tree exudates. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York.2. Yamada T, Ito S (1993) Chemical defense responses of wilt-resistant pine species, Pinus strobus and P. taeda, against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus infection. Ann Phytopathol Soc Jpn 59:666–672.