title: Hypericin: chemical synthesis and biosynthesis.
abstract: Hypericin is one of the most important phenanthoperylene quinones extracted mainly from plants of the genus Hypericum belonging to the sections Euhypericum and Campylosporus of Keller's classification. Widespread attention to the antiviral and anti-tumor properties of hypericin has spurred investigations of the chemical synthesis and biosynthesis of this unique compound. However, the synthetic strategies are challenging for organic and biological chemists. In this review, specific significant advances in total synthesis, semi-synthesis, and biosynthesis in the past decades are summarized.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China.
authors.forename: Lin-Fang
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China.
authors.forename: Zeng-Hui
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China. Electronic address: slchen@implad.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Shi-Lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000873:Anthracenes; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006801:Humans; D020902:Hypericum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010569:Perylene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000138:chemical synthesis*
chemical_list: D000873:Anthracenes; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010569:Perylene; C004965:hypericin
keywords: Biosynthesis; Hypericin; Semi-synthesis; Total synthesis