Stilbenes: Emerging Applications in Health, Agriculture, and Industry

Stilbenes are an important class of plant natural products with a core structure made of 1,2-diphenylethylene and exhibit diverse chemical and biological properties. These defensive compounds are produced in grapevines, peanuts, and other plants, and have been a focus of recent research for their therapeutic tendencies. This chapter aims to discuss the distinctive biological activities, emerging applications of stilbenes, and their sustainable use and production. In the pharmaceutical industry, stilbenes are used for their neuroprotective, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. The nutraceutical and food industries are interested in their antiaging effects, metabolic and cardiovascular health impacts. In the agriculture industry, stilbenoids are investigated as biopesticide, as a green alternative to synthetic pesticides. The cosmetic industry uses stilbenes for their UV-protective, skin-brightening, and antiaging potential in skincare and cosmetic products. Besides these, stilbenes are also researched for environment sustainability and industrial applications in food preservation, bioremediation, and polymer science. The chapter also presents sustainable methods of stilbenes production, both biotechnological and synthetic, as well as the challenges associated with stilbenes, such as regulatory difficulties and poor bioavailability, ending with future directions for the applications and usage of stilbenes. The purpose of these discussions is to highlight the growing interest in stilbenes for their natural properties and benefits in health, agriculture, and industry.