Oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been suggested to be the cause of various degenerative diseases as well as aging. To evaluate the antioxidant potential of stilbenes, we have investigated the cytoprotective effect of 10 stilbenes derived from plants on the oxidative stress induced by tertiary butyl hydroperoxide (t-BuOOH). Of the stilbenes tested, piceatannol (3) showed the most potent activity, which was further investigated using an animal model. When 3 (30 or 10 mg/kg) was topically administered prior to UVB irradiation, the amount of the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was significantly reduced compared to that of the control (vehicle). Our findings suggest that piceatannol is capable of protecting cells and tissues from oxidative stress.