Structural diversity and bioactivities of natural benzophenones

• Published in: Natural product reports 2014-09, Vol.31 (9), p.1158-1174
• Main Authors: Wu, Shi-Biao, Long, Chunlin, Kennelly, Edward J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Infective Agents - chemistry; Anti-Infective Agents - isolation & purification; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; Antioxidants - chemistry; Antioxidants - isolation & purification; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Benzophenones - chemistry; Benzophenones - isolation & purification; Benzophenones - pharmacology; Biological Products - chemistry; Biological Products - isolation & purification; Biological Products - pharmacology; Clusiaceae - chemistry; Molecular Structure
• ISSN: 0265-0568; 1460-4752
• DOI: 10.1039/c4np00027g

Covering: from 1998 to early 2014 Natural benzophenones are a class of compounds consisting of more than 300 members, which exhibit great structural diversity and bioactive properties. Many benzophenones have been reported from higher plants or fungi, most with polyisoprenylated benzophenone skeletons, and are mainly found in the Clusiaceae (formerly Guttiferae) family, a number from edible or medicinal species. Owing to their variable substituents and complex ring systems, many new polyisoprenylated benzophenones (PPBS), including ones with unusual skeletons, were isolated and identified. These natural benzophenones exhibit a range of biological activities including antifungal, anti-HIV, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral and cytotoxic. Because of the increased numbers and biological importance of these unique natural product polyphenols, we will review natural benzophenones and provide an in-depth discussion of their structural diversity and biological activity. By focusing on these key developments in benzophenones, we will contribute a focused review, selecting examples mostly from the last 15 years, but extending our scope to other historically important benzophenones discovered prior to that time. Natural benzophenones are a class of compounds with more than 300 members, mainly in the Clusiaceae family. We review key benzophenones, and provide an in-depth discussion of their great structural diversity and biological activity.