411
Pterostilbene is a methoxylated analogue of resveratrol. It is gaining importance
as a therapeutic drug because of its higher lyophilicity, bioavailability and biological activity than resveratrol (Jhankar and Saroj 2013). The presence of pterostilbene
is reported in various plant sources like Pterocarpus marsupium (Sehadri 1984), P.
santalinus (Maurya et al. 1984) and leaves of V. vinifera (Langcake et al. 1979). As
per Ayurveda, P. marsupium is the most versatile medicinal plant with a wide spectrum of biological activities (Ibrahim and Mishra 2013). Barks of P. marsupium are
used as an astringent, anti-diarrheal and antacid (Tiwari et al. 2004) and are also
effective in β-cell regeneration (Chakravarthy et al. 1980). Its wood water has been
reported to have hypoglycemic activity in diabetic patients (Rajasekharan and Tuli
1976). Its heart wood has been found to decrease plasma glucose level in newly
diagnosed diabetic patients. In the ayurvedic medicine drakshasava, pterostilbene is
the main phenolic compound (6.8 mg/l) (Paul et al. 1999). P. marsupium extract
containing pterostilbene was found to selectively inhibit COX 2, an enzyme in the
inflammatory cascade. Pterostilbene shows potent anti-inflammatory activity, mediated through the inhibition of pro-inflammatory enzymes and cytokines. Pterostilbene
has also been reported to have hypolipidemic properties comparable to clinically
used fibrate lipid-lowering drugs (Rimando et al. 2005).
Knotweed rhizomes and young sprouts are used in traditional Asian medicine.
They contain large amount of stilbenes. Resveratrol, piceid and other stilbenes have
been reported in rhizomes of Japanese knotweed (Vastano et al. 2000; Xiao et al.
2000; Yang et al. 2001; Chu et al. 2005). Rhaponticin, a major compound in the
stilbene glucoside family, exists widely in the medicinal plant genus Rheum L., such
as Rheum officinale Baill and Rheum undulatum Linn (Zhang et al. 2007). It is recommended by health professionals in Asian countries for the treatment and prevention of allergies (Matsuda et al. 2001; Kim et al. 2000).
Smilax aspera is an evergreen, creeping, tough shrub that belongs to the Liliaceae
family. It has been used in herbal medicine for muscle relaxation, skin ailments,
rheumatic pain, depurative, diuretic, diaphoretic, antigout, dropsy, stimulant and
also for its tonic properties (Longo and Vasapollo 2006). It has also been used traditionally for the treatment of syphilis, diabetes, rheumatism and as an antioxidant
(Demo et al. 1998). It is well known in Chinese traditional medicine. Chemical
analysis of this plant resulted in the isolation of stilbene trans-resveratrol.
17.5 Biological Activities of Stilbenes
Stilbenes represent a small class of plant secondary metabolites. These phytochemicals have an enormous diversity of effects on biological and cellular processes
applicable to human health. In addition to their participation in plant defence mechanisms, several stilbenes display several important pharmacological properties.
Pharmacological activities of stilbenes include cancer prevention, cholesterollowering effect, enhanced insulin sensitivity and increased life span (Rimando and
Suh 2008) and in this respect the best studied one is resveratrol. Hundreds of studies
have shown that resveratrol can prevent or slow the progression of a wide variety of
17 Stilbenes and Their Derivatives in Traditional Medicine
Pterostilbene is a methoxylated analogue of resveratrol. It is gaining importance
as a therapeutic drug because of its higher lyophilicity, bioavailability and biological activity than resveratrol (Jhankar and Saroj 2013). The presence of pterostilbene
is reported in various plant sources like Pterocarpus marsupium (Sehadri 1984), P.
santalinus (Maurya et al. 1984) and leaves of V. vinifera (Langcake et al. 1979). As
per Ayurveda, P. marsupium is the most versatile medicinal plant with a wide spectrum of biological activities (Ibrahim and Mishra 2013). Barks of P. marsupium are
used as an astringent, anti-diarrheal and antacid (Tiwari et al. 2004) and are also
effective in β-cell regeneration (Chakravarthy et al. 1980). Its wood water has been
reported to have hypoglycemic activity in diabetic patients (Rajasekharan and Tuli
1976). Its heart wood has been found to decrease plasma glucose level in newly
diagnosed diabetic patients. In the ayurvedic medicine drakshasava, pterostilbene is
the main phenolic compound (6.8 mg/l) (Paul et al. 1999). P. marsupium extract
containing pterostilbene was found to selectively inhibit COX 2, an enzyme in the
inflammatory cascade. Pterostilbene shows potent anti-inflammatory activity, mediated through the inhibition of pro-inflammatory enzymes and cytokines. Pterostilbene
has also been reported to have hypolipidemic properties comparable to clinically
used fibrate lipid-lowering drugs (Rimando et al. 2005).
Knotweed rhizomes and young sprouts are used in traditional Asian medicine.
They contain large amount of stilbenes. Resveratrol, piceid and other stilbenes have
been reported in rhizomes of Japanese knotweed (Vastano et al. 2000; Xiao et al.
2000; Yang et al. 2001; Chu et al. 2005). Rhaponticin, a major compound in the
stilbene glucoside family, exists widely in the medicinal plant genus Rheum L., such
as Rheum officinale Baill and Rheum undulatum Linn (Zhang et al. 2007). It is recommended by health professionals in Asian countries for the treatment and prevention of allergies (Matsuda et al. 2001; Kim et al. 2000).
Smilax aspera is an evergreen, creeping, tough shrub that belongs to the Liliaceae
family. It has been used in herbal medicine for muscle relaxation, skin ailments,
rheumatic pain, depurative, diuretic, diaphoretic, antigout, dropsy, stimulant and
also for its tonic properties (Longo and Vasapollo 2006). It has also been used traditionally for the treatment of syphilis, diabetes, rheumatism and as an antioxidant
(Demo et al. 1998). It is well known in Chinese traditional medicine. Chemical
analysis of this plant resulted in the isolation of stilbene trans-resveratrol.
17.5 Biological Activities of Stilbenes
Stilbenes represent a small class of plant secondary metabolites. These phytochemicals have an enormous diversity of effects on biological and cellular processes
applicable to human health. In addition to their participation in plant defence mechanisms, several stilbenes display several important pharmacological properties.
Pharmacological activities of stilbenes include cancer prevention, cholesterollowering effect, enhanced insulin sensitivity and increased life span (Rimando and
Suh 2008) and in this respect the best studied one is resveratrol. Hundreds of studies
have shown that resveratrol can prevent or slow the progression of a wide variety of
17 Stilbenes and Their Derivatives in Traditional Medicine