Phytochemistry of the genus Skimmia (Rutaceae).
The genus Skimmia is a rich source of interesting secondary metabolites, including 20 alkaloids derived from anthranilic acid, 45 coumarins, 21 limonoids, four cholestane derivatives, six pentacyclic triterpenes, six flavonoids, and two unusual fatty acid derivatives. Skimmia is employed in folk medicine e.g. against fever, inflammations, and rheumatism. Skimmia extracts, Skimmia essential oils and pure compounds isolated from Skimmia extracts have been experimentally shown to have various bioactivities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and insecticidal. In this review we discuss the exact structures of compounds isolated from members of the genus Skimmia, bioactivities of Skimmia extracts and pure compounds derived from them, and systematic implications of the patterns of occurrence of these compounds. Moreover, research gaps and interesting avenues for future research are discussed briefly.
Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università "G. D'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66013 Chieti Scalo, CH, Italy.
Francesco
F
Epifano
Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università "G. D'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66013 Chieti Scalo, CH, Italy.
Serena
S
Fiorito
Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università "G. D'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66013 Chieti Scalo, CH, Italy.
Salvatore
S
Genovese
Department of Pharmacognosy and Molecular Basis of Phytotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Warsaw, ul. Banacha 1, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland; Institut für Pharmazie der Universität Innsbruck, Abteilung Pharmakognosie, Innrain 80/82, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Sebastian
S
Granica
Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie ed Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
Sara
S
Vitalini
Institut für Pharmazie der Universität Innsbruck, Abteilung Pharmakognosie, Innrain 80/82, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: Christian.H.Zidorn@uibk.ac.at.
Christian
C
Zidorn
D015394:Molecular Structure; D010802:Phylogeny; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000737:chemistry*; D027821:Rutaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
D064209:Phytochemicals
Bioactivity; Chemosystematics; Ethnopharmacy; Phylogeny; Rutaceae; Skimmia