A white solid, it is related to trans-stilbene, but with two hydroxy groups on one of the phenyl substituents.

[1] Pinosylvin is produced in plants in response to fungal infections, ozone-induced stress, and physical damage for example.

[4] Injected in rats, pinosylvin undergoes rapid glucuronidation and a poor bioavailability.

[5] Pinosylvin synthase, an enzyme, catalyzes the biosynthesis of pinosylvin from malonyl-CoA and cinnamoyl-CoA: This biosynthesis is noteworthy because plant biosyntheses employing cinnamic acid as a starting point are rare compared to the more common use of p-coumaric acid.

Two other compounds produced from cinnamic acid are anigorufone and curcumin.