Piceatannol (Stilbene · Anti-adipogenic · Skin Brightening)

Compound	Piceatannol
Chemical class	Polyphenol — Stilbene (3,4,3′,5′-Tetrahydroxystilbene)
CAS	10083-24-6
Primary source	Passiflora edulis (passion fruit seeds), Vitis vinifera (grape), Carex spp.
Key applications	Anti-inflammatory, anti-adipogenic, skin brightening
Claim strength	Moderate
Typical form	Passion fruit seed extract; grape-derived piceatannol
Buy from Herbuno	Request availability and bulk pricing →

Name origin: Piceatannol was named in relation to picein (a phenolic glucoside) and the -tannol suffix indicating its hydroxylated polyphenol character. It is a hydroxylated resveratrol analogue — resveratrol with an additional hydroxyl group on the B-ring at position 3′. This additional hydroxyl increases antioxidant capacity and alters receptor interactions. Traditional use: Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) seeds, the primary commercial piceatannol source, are a processing by-product of the passion fruit juice industry in Brazil and Japan. Traditional medicinal use of passion fruit is for anxiety and sleep (attributed to alkaloids and flavonoids), not specifically for piceatannol. Research trajectory: Piceatannol is the primary bioactive in passion fruit seeds and has attracted research for anti-adipogenic activity (inhibiting adipocyte differentiation), skin brightening (tyrosinase inhibition), anti-inflammatory mechanisms, and cardiovascular effects. Japanese researchers have been particularly active in establishing piceatannol’s commercial identity. Commercial source: Passion fruit seed extract standardised to piceatannol is commercially available from specialist suppliers, primarily of South American and Japanese origin. Contact Herbuno for availability assessment.

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Evidence for Piceatannol Applications

Anti-adipogenic and metabolic: Piceatannol inhibits adipocyte differentiation by blocking insulin signalling pathways in early adipogenesis (specifically Cbl-associated protein/CAP pathway) and suppressing PPAR-γ transcription. In cell models, piceatannol prevents fat cell formation more potently than resveratrol. Small human pilot studies with passion fruit seed extract show reduced waist circumference and improved insulin sensitivity over 4–8 weeks. Claim strength: Moderate.

Skin brightening and tyrosinase inhibition: Piceatannol inhibits tyrosinase with IC50 values lower than kojic acid in some assay systems. It reduces melanin synthesis in melanocyte models and protects skin from UV-induced melanogenesis. Topical application studies support skin-brightening positioning. Claim strength: Moderate.

Anti-inflammatory: Piceatannol inhibits NF-κB, Syk kinase (a key inflammatory signalling kinase), and STAT3 in immune cell models. Syk inhibition is a particularly differentiated mechanism — relevant to allergy, mast cell degranulation, and rheumatoid arthritis contexts. Claim strength: Moderate.

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Dosage & Formulator Specification

Human pilot studies with passion fruit seed extract: 50–125 mg/day piceatannol equivalent over 4–8 weeks for anti-adipogenic and metabolic endpoints. Topical applications for skin brightening use piceatannol at 0.1–0.5% in emulsion base. No large-scale RCT has established a definitive human dose-response relationship.

Piceatannol from passion fruit seed extract is available at standardised concentrations (typically 5–20% piceatannol by HPLC). As a passion fruit seed by-product, supply is tied to the passion fruit juice processing industry in Brazil and Japan. Contact Herbuno for sourcing availability and specification.

Piceatannol has better aqueous solubility than resveratrol (additional hydroxyl group). Bioavailability is intermediate between resveratrol (low) and pterostilbene (high). Sensitive to oxidation; antioxidant co-formulation and nitrogen packaging advised. Stable at acidic to neutral pH.

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Frequently Asked Questions — Piceatannol

How does piceatannol compare to resveratrol structurally and functionally?
Piceatannol has an additional 3′-hydroxyl group on the B-ring compared to resveratrol, giving it higher antioxidant capacity and a different enzyme interaction profile — particularly the differentiated Syk kinase inhibition. Bioavailability is somewhat better than resveratrol but lower than pterostilbene. Functionally, piceatannol and resveratrol share SIRT1 and anti-inflammatory mechanisms but piceatannol has more specific evidence for anti-adipogenic and skin-brightening applications.

Is passion fruit seed extract the only commercial piceatannol source?
Passion fruit seed is the primary commercial source due to its relatively high piceatannol content and availability as an industrial by-product. Grape skin and wine also contain piceatannol (as a minor stilbene alongside resveratrol), but at concentrations too low for commercial extraction. Carex species rhizomes are another botanical source but are not commercially exploited for piceatannol at supplement scale.

Can piceatannol be positioned for weight management supplements?
The anti-adipogenic evidence is mechanistically compelling and supported by small human pilot data showing reduced adiposity markers. Position as “studied to support healthy body composition and fat cell metabolism” consistent with the evidence base. Avoid weight loss claims that imply significant total body weight reduction — the human data are preliminary.

Is piceatannol appropriate for combination with other skin brightening ingredients?
Yes. Piceatannol (tyrosinase inhibition) combines rationally with vitamin C (tyrosinase inhibition + melanin reduction), niacinamide (melanosome transfer inhibition), and tranexamic acid (plasmin-mediated melanogenesis inhibition) in multi-mechanism skin brightening formulations. Each operates on a distinct step in the melanogenesis pathway, providing additive or synergistic brightening.

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Claim-strength scale – High = multiple human RCTs; Moderate = limited trials or strong preclinical convergence; Emerging = early-stage lab or animal data.

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