A Comprehensive Review on History, Sources, Biosynthesis, Chemical Synthesis and Applications of Stilbenes

Abstract: This review is about a class of plant polyphenols known as Stilbenes. Resveratrol – the first stilbene was extracted from White Hellebore in 1940, since then 400 plus stilbene derivatives have been discovered. The core purpose of this paper is to summarize the history, extraction sources, biosynthesis and chemical synthesis and applications of stilbenes. Apart from biosynthesis, its novel derivatives are being synthesized in laboratories. This class of compounds has extensive clinical (including antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory activities etc.) and industrial applications such as optical dyes, laser dyes, scintillators, etc.