Pterostilbene

Pterostilbene (/ˌtɛrəˈstɪlbiːn/) (trans-3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxystilbene) is a stilbenoid chemically related to resveratrol. In plants, it serves a defensive phytoalexin role. Pterostilbene (/ˌtɛrəˈstɪlbiːn/) (trans-3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxystilbene) is a stilbenoid chemically related to resveratrol. In plants, it serves a defensive phytoalexin role. Pterostilbene is found in almonds, various Vaccinium berries (including blueberries), grape leaves and vines, and Pterocarpus marsupium heartwood. Pterostilbene is being studied in laboratory and preliminary clinical research. As of 2019, there are no published studies of clinical research on the safety or efficacy of pterostilbene. As pterostilbene is absent on the list of compounds with GRAS by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), its safety for consumption remains unproven as of 2019. Its chemical relative, resveratrol, did receive FDA GRAS status in 2007, and approval of synthetic resveratrol as a safe compound by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2016. Pterostilbene differs from resveratrol by exhibiting increased bioavailability (80% compared to 20% in resveratrol) due to the presence of two methoxy groups which cause it to exhibit increased lipophilic and oral absorption.