Secondary Metabolites and Biological Properties of Gesneriaceae Species

The family Gesneriaceae comprises ca. 150 genera and 3000 species, distributed in the tropics around the world. It is constituted of herbs, lianas, or shrubs, frequently with ornamental potential, due to the beauty of their flowers. Some species have been used in traditional medicine, mainly against fever, cough, colds, snakebite, pains, and infectious and inflammatory diseases. Although Gesneriaceae are a large family, only few species were chemically investigated, and this took place mainly in the last decade. In the present work, chemical and pharmacological studies on Gesneriaceae are reviewed based on original articles published. Altogether 300 compounds have been reported in Gesneriaceae species, including flavonoids, terpenes and steroids, phenolic glucosides, simple phenolics, quinones, lignans, xanthones, and compounds with unusual skeletons. Several species had been used in folk medicine, and some constituents have shown biological activities, such as antimicrobial, anti‐inflamatory, antioxidant, and antitumor properties.     

Secondary Metabolites of Plants from the Genus Chloranthus: Chemistry and Biological Activities

Chloranthus, a genus of the family Chloranthaceae, which is mainly distributed in eastern and southern Asia, has been used in Chinese folk medicine due to its antitumor, antifungal, and anti‐inflammatory activities. This review compiles the research on isolation, structure elucidation, structural diversity, and bioactivities of Chloranthus secondary metabolites reported between 2007 and 2013. The metabolites listed encompass 82 sesquiterpenoids, 50 dimeric sesquiterpenoids, 15 diterpenoids, one coumarin, and five other compounds. Among them, dimeric sesquiterpenoids, the characteristic components of plants from the genus Chloranthus, have attracted considerable attention due to their complex structures and significant biological features, e.g., antitumor, antibacterial, antifungal, anti‐inflammatory, and hepatoprotective activities, and potent and selective inhibition of the delayed rectifier (IK) K⁺ current and tyrosinase.     

A preliminary investigation of some Maruthamalai forest plants for phytochemical compounds

Twenty five plant species from the Maruthamalai hills, Coimbatore, were screened for the presence of phytoconstituents. Among 25 plants, 19 gave positive tests for flavonoids, 23 for alkaloids, 20 for saponins, 25 for tannins, 22 for steroids and terpenoids, 23 for phenolic compounds, and tests indicated the presence of rotenoids in all the plants.     

Chemical constituents from the aerial parts of Meconopsis horridula (Papaveraceae)

Chemical investigation of the aerial parts of Meconopsis horridula led to the isolation and structural identification of nine flavonoids, two alkaloids and five terpenoids. Their structures were determined by comparison of ¹H and ¹³C NMR data with those reported in literature. The discovery of alkaloid cavidilinine (11) and two pentacyclic triterpenoids (15 and 16) from M. horridula provides evidence to support the view that Fumarioideae and Papaveroideae should be combined into a single family Papaveraceae.