Biological and Clinical Spectrum of Piceatannol – A Hydroxylated Analogue of Resveratrol: A Phytochemical Review.

Abstract

Resveratrol (3, 4’, 5-trans-trihydroxystilbene), a naturally occurring stilbene, is considered to have a number of beneficial effects, including anticancer, anti-aethrogenic, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and estrogenic activity. Piceatannol (3, 3', 4, 5'-trans-trihydroxystilbene), a naturally occurring hydroxylated analogue of resveratrol, is less studied than resveratrol but displays a wide spectrum of biological activity. Piceatannol has been found in various plants, including grapes, passion fruit, white tea, and Japanese knotweed. Besides antioxidative effects, piceatannol exhibits potential anticancer properties as suggested by its ability to suppress proliferation of a wide variety of tumor cells, including leukemia, lymphoma; cancers of the breast, prostate, colon and melanoma. Although piceatannol has been shown to induce apoptosis in cancer cells, there are examples of its anti-apoptotic pro-proliferative activity. Piceatannol inhibits Syk kinase, which plays a crucial role in the coordination of immune recognition receptors and orchestrates multiple downstream signaling pathways in various haematopoietic cells. Piceatannol also binds estrogen receptors and stimulates growth of estrogen-dependent cancer cells. The pharmacological properties of piceatannol, especially its antitumor, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities, suggest that piceatannol might be a potentially useful nutritional and pharmacological biomolecule; however, more data are needed on its bioavailability and toxicity in humans. The aim of present article is to provide in depth knowledge about clinical and biological activity of Piceatannol. An attempt is also made to focus on various health effects of Piceatannol and brief description of Piceatannol.

KEY WORDS: Resveratrol, Piceatannol, 3, 3', 4, 5'-Trans-trihydroxystilbene, Astringinin.