Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica, syn. Polygonum cuspidatum, Reynoutria japonica) is a large, herbaceous perennial plant, native to eastern Asia in Japan, China and Korea. In North America and Europe the species is very successful and has been classified as an invasive species in several countries.

Resveratrol (3,4',5-trihydroxystilbene) is a naturally occurring polyphenolic phytoalexine found in medicinal plants of the Polygonum species (Polygonaceae). Resveratrol reduced lipogenesis from palmitate in the liver and adipose tissue in vivo. We also showed the inhibitory effect of resveratrol on arachidonic acid–induced platelet aggregation . Resveratrol and its derivatives have been further shown to strongly inhibit the degranulation of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Recently, there have been a number of reports that resveratrol inhibits tumor growth and causes apoptosis as a cancer chemopreventive mechanism.