The Current Status of the Pharmaceutical Potential of Juniperus L. Metabolites
Background: Plants and their derived natural compounds possess various biological and therapeutic properties, which turns them into an increasing topic of interest and research. Juniperus genus is diverse in species, with several traditional medicines reported, and rich in natural compounds with pot...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-07-01
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| Series: | Medicines |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2305-6320/5/3/81 |
| _version_ | 1831738777273368576 |
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| author | Wilson R. Tavares Ana M. L. Seca |
| author_facet | Wilson R. Tavares Ana M. L. Seca |
| author_sort | Wilson R. Tavares |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Plants and their derived natural compounds possess various biological and therapeutic properties, which turns them into an increasing topic of interest and research. Juniperus genus is diverse in species, with several traditional medicines reported, and rich in natural compounds with potential for development of new drugs. Methods: The research for this review were based in the Scopus and Web of Science databases using terms combining Juniperus, secondary metabolites names, and biological activities. This is not an exhaustive review of Juniperus compounds with biological activities, but rather a critical selection taking into account the following criteria: (i) studies involving the most recent methodologies for quantitative evaluation of biological activities; and (ii) the compounds with the highest number of studies published in the last four years. Results: From Juniperus species, several diterpenes, flavonoids, and one lignan were emphasized taking into account their level of activity against several targets. Antitumor activity is by far the most studied, being followed by antibacterial and antiviral activities. Deoxypodophyllotoxin and one dehydroabietic acid derivative appears to be the most promising lead compounds. Conclusions: This review demonstrates the Juniperus species value as a source of secondary metabolites with relevant pharmaceutical potential. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T13:28:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ebfff151f0dd400b92cd162f81f065c9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2305-6320 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T13:28:24Z |
| publishDate | 2018-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Medicines |
| spelling | doaj.art-ebfff151f0dd400b92cd162f81f065c92022-12-21T19:02:24ZengMDPI AGMedicines2305-63202018-07-01538110.3390/medicines5030081medicines5030081The Current Status of the Pharmaceutical Potential of Juniperus L. MetabolitesWilson R. Tavares0Ana M. L. Seca1Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Azores, 9501-801 Ponta Delgada, PortugalDepartment of Chemistry & QOPNA-Organic Chemistry, Natural Products and Food Stuffs, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalBackground: Plants and their derived natural compounds possess various biological and therapeutic properties, which turns them into an increasing topic of interest and research. Juniperus genus is diverse in species, with several traditional medicines reported, and rich in natural compounds with potential for development of new drugs. Methods: The research for this review were based in the Scopus and Web of Science databases using terms combining Juniperus, secondary metabolites names, and biological activities. This is not an exhaustive review of Juniperus compounds with biological activities, but rather a critical selection taking into account the following criteria: (i) studies involving the most recent methodologies for quantitative evaluation of biological activities; and (ii) the compounds with the highest number of studies published in the last four years. Results: From Juniperus species, several diterpenes, flavonoids, and one lignan were emphasized taking into account their level of activity against several targets. Antitumor activity is by far the most studied, being followed by antibacterial and antiviral activities. Deoxypodophyllotoxin and one dehydroabietic acid derivative appears to be the most promising lead compounds. Conclusions: This review demonstrates the Juniperus species value as a source of secondary metabolites with relevant pharmaceutical potential.http://www.mdpi.com/2305-6320/5/3/81Juniperussecondary metabolitesditerpenesflavonoidslignanscytotoxicantitumorantibacterialamentoflavonedeoxypodophyllotoxin |
| spellingShingle | Wilson R. Tavares Ana M. L. Seca The Current Status of the Pharmaceutical Potential of Juniperus L. Metabolites Medicines Juniperus secondary metabolites diterpenes flavonoids lignans cytotoxic antitumor antibacterial amentoflavone deoxypodophyllotoxin |
| title | The Current Status of the Pharmaceutical Potential of Juniperus L. Metabolites |
| title_full | The Current Status of the Pharmaceutical Potential of Juniperus L. Metabolites |
| title_fullStr | The Current Status of the Pharmaceutical Potential of Juniperus L. Metabolites |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Current Status of the Pharmaceutical Potential of Juniperus L. Metabolites |
| title_short | The Current Status of the Pharmaceutical Potential of Juniperus L. Metabolites |
| title_sort | current status of the pharmaceutical potential of juniperus l metabolites |
| topic | Juniperus secondary metabolites diterpenes flavonoids lignans cytotoxic antitumor antibacterial amentoflavone deoxypodophyllotoxin |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2305-6320/5/3/81 |
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