Chemistry and pharmacology of oxyprenylated secondary plant metabolites.

Full Abstract

Oxyprenylated natural products (isopentenyloxy-, geranyloxy- and the less spread farnesyloxy- compounds and their biosynthetic derivatives) represent a family of secondary metabolites that have been considered for years just as biosynthetic intermediates of C-prenylated derivatives. Only in the last decade these natural products have been recognized as interesting and valuable biologically active phytochemicals. Up to now about 300 molecules have been isolated from plants mainly belonging to the families of Rutaceae and Compositae, comprising common edible vegetables and fruits. A wide variety of compounds containing a prenyloxy side chain have been isolated and these comprise alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, cinnamic acids, benzoic acids, phenols, alcohols, aldehydes, anthraquinones, chalcones, lignans, xanthones, aceto- and benzophenones and other more uncommon skeletons. Many of the isolated oxyprenylated natural products and their semisynthetic derivatives were shown to exert in vitro and in vivo remarkable anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-fungal effects. The aim of this review is to examine in detail the different types of oxyprenylated natural compounds from a phytochemical and pharmacological point of view.

Author information

Author/s: Epifano, Francesco (F); Genovese, Salvatore (S); Menghini, Luigi (L); Curini, Massimo (M);

Affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, Università G. D'Annunzio di Chieti-Pescara, Chieti Scalo, Italy. fepifano(-atsign-)unich.it <fepifano(-atsign-)unich.it>

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Review

Journal: Phytochemistry (Phytochemistry), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Apr; vol 68 (issue 7) : pp 939-53

Dates: Created 2007/03/20; Completed 2007/09/06;

PMID: 17343885, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Chalcone - chemistry; pharmacology
Coumarins - chemistry; pharmacology
Molecular Structure
Plant Extracts - chemistry; pharmacology
Rutaceae - chemistry; metabolism

Associated Chemicals: 5-hydroxy-6-methoxy-7-(3-methyl-but-2-enyloxy)-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (0) ; Alkaloids (0) ; Anti-Infective Agents (0) ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal (0) ; Antineoplastic Agents (0) ; Coumarins (0) ; Plant Extracts (0) ; Chalcone (94-41-7)

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