Quinones: Biosynthesis, Characterization of 13 C Spectroscopical Data and Pharmacological Activities

Chem Biodivers. 2023 Dec;20(12):e202301365. doi: 10.1002/cbdv.202301365. Epub 2023 Nov 20.

Abstract

Quinones are natural products widely distributed in nature, which are involved in stages of several vital biological processes, with mostly having a variety of pharmacological properties. The main groups comprising most of these compounds are benzoquinones, naphthoquinones, anthraquinones, and phenanthraquinones. Quinone isolation has been a focus of study around the world in recent years; for this reason, this study approaches the junction of natural quinones identified by 13 C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopic analytical techniques. The methodology used to obtain the data collected articles from various databases on quinones from 2000 to 2022. As a result, 137 compounds were selected, among which 70 were characterized for the first time in the period investigated; moreover, the study also discusses the biosynthetic pathways of quinones and the pharmacological activities of the compounds found, giving an overview of the various applications of these compounds.

Keywords: 13C NMR; biosynthesis; pharmacological activity; quinones.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anthraquinones / chemistry
  • Benzoquinones / chemistry
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Naphthoquinones* / chemistry
  • Quinones* / chemistry
  • Quinones* / pharmacology

Substances

  • Quinones
  • Benzoquinones
  • Naphthoquinones
  • Anthraquinones