title: Chemical and Biological Aspects of the Natural 1,4-Benzoquinone Embelin and its (semi-)Synthetic Derivatives.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Like the impressive biological properties of embelin, its chemical aspects have raised the interest of scientists in the field as well. A detailed understanding of the chemistry of embelin is necessary to fully exploit it medicinally.
  
  
  METHODS
  Search for embelin isolation and its chemical modifications was carried out using web-based literature searching tools such as Pubmed and Scifinder. Pertinent literature is covered up to 2016. Structures of bioactive embelin derivatives are provided.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pure embelin, obtained from Embelia ribes berries extraction or by total synthesis, was applied for a number of biological assays. Semi-synthetic and total synthetic approaches led to new high affinity embelin-derived inhibitors of crucial protein targets and to new embelin derivatives with improved pharmacological properties (e.g., with better water-solubility or as applications for drug carrier systems).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review provides a summary of the rich chemistry of embelin and the latest developments in the field of optimized (semi-)synthetic embelin derivatives including their biological activities.
authors.affiliation: ISTRA, Abeda Inamdar Senior College, University of Pune, Pune 411001, India.
authors.forename: Priti Singh
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Shuveksh
authors.affiliation: ISTRA, Abeda Inamdar Senior College, University of Pune, Pune 411001, India.
authors.forename: Khursheed
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: ISTRA, Abeda Inamdar Senior College, University of Pune, Pune 411001, India.
authors.forename: Subhash
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Padhye
authors.affiliation: Organic Chemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, Chemistry, and Earth Sciences, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schobert
authors.affiliation: Organic Chemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, Chemistry, and Earth Sciences, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Biersack
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016227:Benzoquinones / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D060326:Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic / Q000379:methods; D015195:Drug Design; D031645:Embelia / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016227:Benzoquinones; C010945:embelin
keywords: (semi-)synthetic embelin derivatives; Embelin; antioxidant; benzoquinone; drug design; natural products