Polygonum cuspidatum herb is a source of resveratrol

Polygonum cuspidatum herb is also known as Japanese knotweed. It grows wildly in most of the states in the US. Most of the Resveratrol supplements on the market extract this substance from the  Polygonum cuspidatum plant.

Polygonum cuspidatum root composition
Four anthraquinones, physcion, emodin, citreorosein and anthraglycoside B, and two stilbenes, resveratrol, and piceid, are found in the root of Polygonum cuspidatum.

Bioassay-guided separation of citreorosein and other oestrogenic compounds From Polygonum cuspidatum.
Phytother Res. 2008 Dec 23. Textile and Material College, Xi'an Polytechnic University, 19 Jinhua Road South, Xi'an 710048, P.R. China.
Citreorosein was isolated from
Polygonum cuspidatum as a new estrogenic compound, together with emodin and its glucoside. Estrogenic activity was determined by a recombinant yeast assay.

Effect of different light intensity on Polygonum cuspidatum callus
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2007 Jul;32(13):1277-80. Agronomy College, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya' an 625014, China
To study the effect of light intensity (LI) on the callus induction and resveratrol content of Polygonum cuspidatum. Taking leaves and stem segment of Polygonum cuspidatum as explants, the callus was inducted and cultured under different LI. The growth status of callus was observed and analyzed. The content of resveratrol was determined by HPLC. The formation and growth of the stem segment callus were optimal under low light treatment (1340-1560 lx). The resveratrol content was 18.350 microg x g(-1) in fresh stem segment and 140.074 microg x g(-1) in dry stem segment, which was two times higher than that of wild P. cuspidatum. Introduction and status of Polygonum cuspidatum callus were obvious diverse under different LI, the resveratrol content of P. cuspidatum was enhanced under appropriate LI.

Polygonum cuspidatum questions
Q.  On a website on polygonum cuspidatum a writer said of not thinking that this herbs effects kidneys. This plant contains large quantities of oxalic acid and I believe that it is generally accepted that for those people with kidney stones or a genetic propensity towards same, oxalic acid consumption is discouraged. As Polygonum cuspidatum is at times eaten as a whole plant (leaves, seeds, roots) there will be meaningful consumption of oxalic acid.
   A. A Medline search for the terms " Polygonum cuspidatum oxalic acid "did not reveal any studies. The amount of herbs that are ingested as supplements are very small, and any potential exposure to oxalic acid would be minimal compared to oxalic content of certain foods such as spinach.
 

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