Pterostilbene

Natural occurrence

Pterostilbene is found in almonds, various Vaccinium berries (including blueberries), grape leaves and vines. It is also encountered in the xylem, particularly in the heartwood of Pterocarpus marsupium as well as in other species of the Pterocarpus family, including Malay padauk, the Narra tree (Pterocarpus indicus), Muninga and African padauk (Pterocarpus erinaceus), thus contributing to the high natural durability as a known phytoalexin.

Safety and regulation

Pterostilbene is considered to be a corrosive substance, is dangerous upon exposure to the eyes, and is an environmental toxin, especially to aquatic life. A preliminary study of healthy human subjects given pterostilbene for 6–8 weeks, showed pterostilbene to be safe for human use at dosages up to 250 mg per day, although this study did not assess metabolic effects on the lipid profile.

Other studies have reported dose-based elevations of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, "bad cholesterol") and decreased high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, "good cholesterol") within 4 to 8 weeks of daily dosing. The elevation of LDL-C may move previously normal ranges into borderline high or high reference range and has raised questions about the longterm cardiovascular risk of pterostilbene supplementation in humans.

Its chemical relative, resveratrol, received 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.

References

References

1. (16 November 2019). "Pterostilbene, CID 5281727". PubChem, National Library of Medicine, US National Institutes of Health.
2. (1977). "A new class of phytoalexins from grapevines". Experientia.
3. (2014). "Characterisation of stilbenes in California almonds (Prunus dulcis) by UHPLC-MS". Food Chem.
4. (1 November 2006). "Pterostilbene's healthy potential". US Department of Agriculture, Online Magazine, Vol. 54, No. 11.
5. (2004). "Resveratrol, pterostilbene, and piceatannol in vaccinium berries". J Agric Food Chem.
6. (2014). "MALDI mass spectrometry imaging for the simultaneous location of resveratrol, pterostilbene and viniferins on grapevine leaves". Molecules.
7. (2013). "A review of pterostilbene antioxidant activity and disease modification". Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity.
8. (2023). "Springer Handbooks". Springer International Publishing.
9. (2018). "Metabolism and pharmacokinetics of resveratrol and pterostilbene". BioFactors.
10. (October 13, 2018). "Pterostilbene raises low density lipoprotein cholesterol in people". Clinical Nutrition.
11. (1 August 2007). "GRAS Notice GRN 224: Resveratrol". US Food and Drug Administration, Food Ingredient and Packaging Inventories.
12. (12 January 2016). "Safety of synthetic trans‐resveratrol as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 258/97". European Food Safety Authority, EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies.