Polydatin (Piceid), extracted from the roots of Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb, a widely used traditional Chinese remedies, possesses anti-inflammatory activity in several experimental models.

Polydatin protects cerebral cells from ischemic damages via improvement of microcirculation and inhibition of platelet aggregation. In addition, polydatin inhibits ICAM-1 expression in endothelial cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide; it also attenuates adhesion between white blood cells and endothelial cells[1].

Polydatin could significantly increase the activity of SOD and the heart rate, attenuate myocardial pathological damage, decrease MDA content, slightly increase arterial pressure and GSH-Px activity, reduce intervals of QRS, QT and ST, and lower FFA content[2].