title: Biological and pharmacological activities of iridoids: recent developments.
abstract: Iridoids represent a large group of cyclopenta[c]pyran monoterpenoids that occur wide-spread in nature, mainly in dicotyledonous plant families like Apocynaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Diervillaceae, Lamiaceae, Loganiaceae and Rubiaceae. Recently, more extensive studies revealed that iridoids exhibit a wide range of bioactivity, such as neuroprotective, antinflammatory and immunomodulator, hepatoprotective and cardioprotective effects. Anticancer, antioxidant, antimicrobic, hypoglycaemic, hypolipidemic, choleretic, antispasmodic and purgative properties were also reported. The aim of the present review is to discuss the recent developments on biological and pharmacological activities of iridoids, supporting the new therapeutic possibilities for the use of these compounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende (CS), Italy. rosa.tundis@unical.it
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tundis
authors.forename: Monica R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Loizzo
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Menichini
authors.forename: Giancarlo A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Statti
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Menichini
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D039823:Iridoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D039823:Iridoids; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents