Biological and Chemical Aspects of Natural Biflavonoids from Plants: A Brief Review.
BACKGROUND
Biflavonoids belong to a subclass of the plant flavonoids family and are limited to several species in the plant kingdom. In the literature, biflavonoids are extensively reported for their pharmacological properties including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, inhibitory activity against phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and antiprotozoal activity.


METHODS
These activities have been discovered from the small number of biflavonoid structures that have been investigated, although the natural biflavonoids library is likely to be large. In addition, many medicinal properties and traditional use of plants are attributed to the presence of bioflavonoids among their secondary metabolites. Structurally, biflavonoids are polyphenol compounds comprising of two identical or non-identical flavonflavonoid units joined in a symmetrical or unsymmetrical manner through an alkyl or an alkoxy-based linker of varying length. Due to their chemical and biological importance, several bioprospective phytochemical studies and chemical approaches using coupling and molecular rearrangement strategies have been developed to identify and synthesize new bioactive biflavonoids.


CONCLUSIONS
In this brief review, we present some basic structural aspects for classification and nomenclature of bioflavonoids and a compilation of the literature data published in the last 7 years, concerning the discovery of new natural biflavonoids of plant origin and their pharmacological and biological properties.
Institute of Chemistry, Laboratory of Research in Medicinal Chemistry, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Vanessa Silva
VS
Gontijo
Institute of Chemistry, Laboratory of Research in Medicinal Chemistry, Rua Jovino Fernades Sales, 2600. Federal University of Alfenas, 37130.000 Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Marcelo Henrique
MH
Dos Santos
Institute of Chemistry, Laboratory of Research in Medicinal Chemistry, Rua Jovino Fernades Sales, 2600. Federal University of Alfenas, 37130.000 Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Claudio
C
Viegas
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry; D044946:Biflavonoids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001688:Biological Products / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007891:Leishmania / Q000187:drug effects; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000187:drug effects
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D044946:Biflavonoids; D001688:Biological Products
Biological activity; flavonoids; natural biflavonoids; natural products; pharmacologia; phytochemical