A novel antioxidant prenylated stilbenoid, distachyasin, has been isolated from the leaves of Carex distachya. Its structure has been elucidated on the basis of the spectroscopic characteristics. Bidimensional NMR, and crystallographic data and computational calculations have furnished important data useful for the characterization and the stereochemistry of the molecule. The compound has a tetracyclic skeleton derived from carexane. The compound has been assayed, for the antioxidant activity, by measuring its capacity to scavenge the H(2)O(2), nitric oxide, superoxide radical and to inhibit formation of TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive species).