title: Structural features and biological properties of ellagitannins in some plant families of the order Myrtales.
abstract: Plant tannins, including hydrolysable and condensed varieties, are well known antioxidants in medicinal plants, foods, and edible fruits. Their diverse biological properties and potential for disease prevention have been demonstrated by various in vitro and in vivo assays. A number of ellagitannins, the largest group of hydrolysable tannins, have been isolated from dicotyledoneous angiosperms and characterized. This diverse class of tannins is sub-grouped into simple ellagitannins, C-glycosidic ellagitannins, complex tannins (condensates of C-glycosidic tannins with flavan-3-ol), and oligomers up to pentamers. This review outlines and describes the chemotaxonomic significance of structural features in various types of ellagitannins found in plants belonging to the Myrtaceae, Onagraceae, and Melastomataceae families, which are all included in the order Myrtales. Any biological activities that have been reported, including antitumor and antibacterial effects as well as enzyme inhibition, are also reviewed.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Matsuyama University, Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8578, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Matsuyama University, Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8578, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Amakura
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Matsuyama University, Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8578, Japan.
authors.forename: Morio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D047348:Hydrolyzable Tannins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D047348:Hydrolyzable Tannins