Phytochemistry and Bioactivity of Iridoid Compounds
Summary
Iridoids are a class of monoterpenoid secondary metabolites characterised by a cyclopentanoid pyran skeleton. Widely distributed across plant families such as Gentianaceae, Oleaceae and Lamiaceae, these compounds occur predominantly as glycosides. Advances in chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques have elucidated a remarkable structural diversity, including novel glycosylation patterns and dimeric arrangements. Biosynthetically derived from geraniol, iridoids often serve defensive roles against herbivores and pathogens. Beyond ecological functions, iridoid glycosides exhibit a broad spectrum of bioactivities: anti-inflammatory actions mediated by suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines; antioxidant capacity through free-radical scavenging; neuroprotective effects linked to attenuation of oxidative stress and modulation of neurotransmitter systems; hepatoprotective and cardioprotective benefits via enhancement of endogenous antioxidant enzymes; and anticancer potential through induction of apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest in various tumour cell lines. Their water solubility and glycosidic linkages facilitate absorption and targeted delivery, making iridoids attractive leads for drug development. Current research focuses on structure–activity relationships, optimisation of extraction methods, semi-synthesis of analogues with improved pharmacokinetics, and elucidation of molecular mechanisms underlying therapeutic effects. Global significance arises from iridoids’ presence in widely used herbal medicines and their potential to address inflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders.
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Phytochemistry and Bioactivity of Iridoid Compounds publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in phytochemistry and bioactivity of iridoid compounds across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Iridoid: Monoterpenoid with a cyclopentapyran skeleton often occurring as glycosides.
Glycoside: Molecule in which a sugar is covalently bound to an aglycone moiety.
NMR spectroscopy: Analytical method using magnetic properties of nuclei to determine molecular structure.
NF-κB: Protein complex that controls transcription of genes involved in inflammation.
Oxidative stress: Cellular damage resulting from an excess of reactive oxygen species over antioxidant defences.
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