title: Harpagoside: from Kalahari Desert to pharmacy shelf.
abstract: Harpagoside is an iridoid glycoside that was first isolated from Harpagophytum procumbens (devil's claw, Pedaliaceae), a medicinal plant in which it is the major constituent of the iridoid pool. Both the pure compound and devil's claw extracts have potent anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. According to the European Pharmacopoeia commercial devil's claw products should contain at least 1.2% harpagoside. However, the compound has also been isolated from several other plant species and in vitro plant culture systems. Recent advances in knowledge of harpagoside distribution, biosynthesis/accumulation and pharmacology are summarized in this review. We also discuss the possible synergism and/or antagonism between major constituents in harpagoside-containing phytopharmaceutical products. Finally, future perspectives for its potential application are highlighted.
authors: Laboratory of Applied Biotechnologies, Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Plovdiv, Bulgaria. milengeorgiev@gbg.bg
authors: Milen I
authors: MI
authors: Georgiev
authors: Nina
authors: N
authors: Ivanovska
authors: Kalina
authors: K
authors: Alipieva
authors: Petya
authors: P
authors: Dimitrova
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Verpoorte
mesh_terms: D006027:Glycosides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D029601:Pedaliaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011714:Pyrans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D006027:Glycosides; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D011714:Pyrans; C033249:harpagoside