Natural phenanthrenes and their biological activity.

The genus Berberis (Berberidaceae) includes about 500 species worldwide, some of which are widely cultivated in the north-eastern regions of Iran. This genus consists of spiny deciduous evergreen shrubs, characterized by yellow wood and flowers. The cultivation of seedless barberry in South Khorasan goes back to two hundred years ago. Medicinal properties for all parts of these plants have been reported, including: Antimicrobial, antiemetic, antipyretic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-arrhythmic, sedative, anti-cholinergic, cholagogic, anti-leishmaniasis, and anti-malaria. The main compounds found in various species of Berberis, are berberine and berbamine. Phytochemical analysis of various species of this genus revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, phenolic compounds, sterols and triterpenes. Although there are some review articles on Berberis vulgaris (as the most applied species), there is no review on the phytochemical and pharmacological activities of other well-known species of the genus Berberis. For this reason, the present review mainly focused on the diverse secondary metabolites of various species of this genus and the considerable pharmacological and biological activities together with a concise story of the botany and cultivation.

Phytochemistry and pharmacology of berberis species.

Moscatilin, a bibenzyl derivative from the orchid Dendrobium moscatum

Biaryls in nature: a multi-facetted class of stereochemically, biosynthetically, and pharmacologically intriguing secondary metabolites.

Nudol, a phenanthrene of the orchids Eulophia nuda, Eria carinata and Eria stricta

Coelonin, A 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene from the orchids Coelogyne ochracea and Coelogyne elata

Isoflavidinin and iso-oxoflavidinin, two 9,10-dihydrophenanthrenes from the orchids Pholidota articulata, Otochilus porecta and Otochilus fusca

Structures of cyclootochilone and otochilone, two novel steroidal ketones of the orchids otochilus porecta and otochilus fusca

1,4-bis-(2′-hydroxy-5′-methylphenyl)-butan-1,4-dione—a biogenetically rare type of phenolic of Berberis coriaria

Alstolenine, 19,20-dihydropolyneuridine and other minor alkaloids of the leaves of Alstonia venenata

Priyalal Majumder

Papers

Coelonin, A 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene from the orchids Coelogyne ochracea and Coelogyne elata

Isoflavidinin and iso-oxoflavidinin, two 9,10-dihydrophenanthrenes from the orchids Pholidota articulata, Otochilus porecta and Otochilus fusca

Structures of cyclootochilone and otochilone, two novel steroidal ketones of the orchids otochilus porecta and otochilus fusca

1,4-bis-(2′-hydroxy-5′-methylphenyl)-butan-1,4-dione—a biogenetically rare type of phenolic of Berberis coriaria

Alstolenine, 19,20-dihydropolyneuridine and other minor alkaloids of the leaves of Alstonia venenata