title: [Bioactive secondary metabolites produced by plants of the genus Physalis].
abstract: Plants from the genus Physalis L. (family Solanaceae), native to warm and subtropical regions of Central and South America, are particularly rich in secondary metabolites, e.g.: withanolides, physalins, calystegines, tropane and nortropane alkaloids. Due to the high biological activities of these compounds, in the tropics Physalis plants have been used for centuries as medicinal herbs in the treatment of urinary and skin diseases, gonorrhea, ulcers, sores and as a vermicidal drug. This review describes the main categories of secondary metabolites, their distribution, chemistry, biosynthesis as well as biological activities. Particular attention is given to their potent anticancer activities.
authors.affiliation: Katedra Fizjologii i Biochemii Roślin Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego, ul. S. Banacha 12/16, Łódź.
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Agata
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kusiak
authors.forename: Bartłomiej
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stępień
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bergier
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kuźniak
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D032321:Physalis / Q000378:metabolism*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts