Stilbenoid

Stilbenoids are secondary products of heartwood formation in trees that can act as phytoalexins. Chemically they are hydroxylated derivatives of stilbene. Biochemically they belong to the family of phenylpropanoids and share most of their biosynthesis pathway with chalcones.

An example of stilbenoids is reservatrol which is found in grapes and which has been suggested to have many health benefits.

Phytoalexin properties
They have been suggested by some studies to be responsible for resistance to some tree diseases, such as pine wilt.