Chemical Constituents and Biological Activities of Viburnum Compounds
Summary
The genus Viburnum encompasses over 230 species of shrubs and small trees renowned for an extensive array of phytochemicals. Core constituents include polyphenols, flavonoids and carotenoids, alongside unique terpenoid classes such as vibsanin-type diterpenes, triterpenoids and sterols. Many species also yield iridoid glycosides and alkaloids. This chemical diversity underpins a spectrum of biological activities: potent antioxidant and free-radical scavenging effects, broad-spectrum antimicrobial and antibacterial potency, anti-inflammatory action via enzymatic inhibition and promising cytotoxic and anticancer properties in preclinical assays. Variability in metabolite profile is influenced by plant organ, extraction method and species genetics, with certain taxa exhibiting particularly rich reservoirs of bioactive compounds. Collectively, these findings highlight Viburnum as a reservoir for nutraceutical development, pharmaceutical drug leads and agricultural biocontrol agents, emphasising its global significance in food, health and agro-industrial applications.
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Chemical Constituents and Biological Activities of Viburnum Compounds publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in chemical constituents and biological activities of viburnum compounds across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Phytochemical: Bioactive chemical compound produced by plants, often conferring therapeutic effects.
Vibsanin-type diterpene: A class of diterpenoid molecules characteristic of Viburnum species, notable for diverse pharmacological activities.
Antioxidant activity: Capacity of a compound to neutralise free radicals and mitigate oxidative damage in biological systems.
Glycoside: Molecule comprising a sugar moiety linked to a non-sugar component, influencing solubility and bioactivity.
LOX inhibition: Suppression of lipoxygenase enzymes, which are key mediators in inflammatory pathways.
References
- Genus Viburnum: Therapeutic Potentialities and Agro‐Food‐Pharma Applications. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity (2021).
- Phytochemical profiling, antioxidant and antimicrobial investigations on Viburnum simonsii Hook. f. & Thoms, an unexplored ethnomedicinal plant of Meghalaya, India. Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (2023).
- Phytochemical profiling, and anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties of Viburnum coriaceum Blume. Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (2020).
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