Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Activities of Family Flacourtiaceae: A Class of Important Phytomedicine

Am J Chin Med. 2020;48(2):287-328. doi: 10.1142/S0192415X20500159. Epub 2020 Mar 11.

Abstract

Flacourtiaceae plants are widely used as folk medicines in traditional medicine systems for its chemical diversity and pharmacological activities. In many different areas, Flacourtiaceae plants are used as traditional medicines for the treatment of ulcers, malaria, rheumatism. The Flacourtiaceae plants contain a very plentiful chemical composition, and phytochemical studies show that the Flacourtiaceae plants contained terpenoids, aromatic glycosides, flavnoids, phenylpropanoids, alkaloids, fatty hydrocarbon, and other compounds. In pharmacological studies, various extract and isolated individual compounds exhibited antitumor, anti-oxidation, and anti-inflammatory activities. In this review, the literature data on the chemical constituents and pharmacological investigations of the Flacourtiaceae plants are summarized, to provide information about a more comprehensive chemical composition and detailed pharmacological activities of Flacourtiaceae plants, with a view of further development of clinical medication. However, research on quantitative analysis, toxicity, and drug safety in vitro and in vivo is still insufficient, and further research is required.

Keywords: Anti-Oxidant; Aromatic Glycosides; Chemical Constituents; Flacourtiaceae; Pharmacological Activities; Review.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Flavonoids / analysis
  • Glycosides / analysis
  • Humans
  • Malaria / drug therapy
  • Phytochemicals / analysis
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / isolation & purification
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use
  • Rheumatic Diseases / drug therapy
  • Salicaceae / chemistry*
  • Terpenes / analysis
  • Ulcer / drug therapy

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Flavonoids
  • Glycosides
  • Phytochemicals
  • Plant Extracts
  • Terpenes