Current research on determination of medically valued stilbenes and stilbenoids from spruce and pine with chromatographic and spectrometric methods—A review

The review compiles a selection of the recently published chemical research on stilbenes, stilbene glucuronides, and stilbenoids. The basic structure of stilbene group compounds is 1,2-diphenylethene. They can be isolated from spruce, pine, and other conifers, and specifically from wood bark, needles, heartwood, and roots.

Stilbenes and stilbenoids possess antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial impacts what for they are used in pharmaceuticals. They decrease of glucose and triglyceride concentrations in plasma. Especially, they are used for treatment of cancer, liver injuries, and Alzheimer's disease.

Lately, extraction of stilbene group compounds from wood materials was done with alcohol, water, or nonpolar solvents. Moreover, they were extracted with supercritical fluid and hot water extraction methods. Rectified extracts were studied with liquid and/or gas chromatography. Mass spectrometry with negative electrospray ionization was the prevalent method for their identification. HPLC-MS methods were preferred over GC to identify dimeric stilbenes and oligomeric stilbenoids.