Astilbin is a flavanonol, a type of flavonoid. Astilbin is the (2R-trans)-isomer; neoisoastilbin is the (2S-cis)-isomer and isoastilbin is the (2R-cis)-isomer.Astilbin on PubChem

Natural occurrences Astilbin can be found in St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum, Clusiaceae, subfamily Hypericoideae, formerly often considered a full family Hypericaceae), in Dimorphandra mollis (Fava d'anta, Fabaceae), in the leaves of Harungana madagascariensis (Hypericaceae),, in the rhizome of Astilbe thunbergii, in the root of Astilbe odontophylla (Saxifragaceae), in the rhizome of Smilax glabra (Chinaroot, Smilacaceae) and in the bark of Hymenaea martiana.Isolation, Chemical Identification and Pharmacological Evaluation of Eucryphin, Astilbin and Engelitin Obtained from the Bark of Hymenaea martiana. Eliane Carneiro, João B. Calixto, Franco Delle Monache‌and Rosendo A. Yunes, Pharmaceutical Biology, 1993, Vol. 31, No. 1, Pages 38-46

In food It can be isolated from Kohki tea processed from Engelhardtia chrysolepis (huang-qui). It is also present in certain wines.Levels of Stilbene Oligomers and Astilbin in French Varietal Wines and in Grapes during Noble Rot Development, Nicolas Landrault, Fabienne Larronde, Jean-Claude Delaunay, Chantal Castagnino, Joseph Vercauteren, Jean-Michel Merillon, Francis Gasc, Gérard Cros and Pierre-Louis Teissedre, J. Agric. Food Chem., 2002, 50 (7), pages 2046–2052,

Uses Astilbin can act as an insecticide against Anticarsia gemmatalis and Spodoptera frugiperda. It shows in vitro antibacterial activity and activity on burn wound healing. Astilbin is used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Related compounds 3'-O-Methylastilbin shows an immunosuppressive activity against contact dermatitis.

References