MMP9 and hepatocellular carcinoma: In a separate study, it was found that resveratrol, pterostilbene, quercetin, and their combinations had the ability to protect erythrocyte membranes from H2O2-induced lipid peroxidation.34 Pterostilbene inhibits signal transduction pathways, including NF-κB expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9)), MMP-9, and mitogen-activated protein kinase, in order to stop tumor formation in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.