Title:Oxyprenylated Secondary Metabolites as Modulators of Lipid and Sugar
Metabolism
Volume: 22
Issue: 3
Author(s): Serena Fiorito, Francesco Epifano*, Lorenzo Marchetti, Lucia Palumbo, Ilkay Erdogan Orhan, Majid Sharifi-Rad and Salvatore Genovese
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacy, University “Gabriele d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100 Chieti Scalo
(CH), Italy
Keywords:
Apiaceae, Auraptene, Imperatorin, Lipid metabolism, Oxyprenylated coumarins, Oxyprenylated secondary metabolites, Rutaceae, Sugar metabolism.
Abstract: O-Prenylcoumarins (3,3-dimethylallyl, geranyl-, farnesyl- and related biosynthetic derivatives)
represent a class of rarely occurring natural compounds. Most of these secondary metabolites
have been obtained from plant species belonging to the Rutaceae, Apiaceae, and Fabaceae families,
and from fungi, and bacteria. In the last two decades, prenyloxycoumarins have been found to
possess great potential in terms of pharmacological activities. The aim of this comprehensive review
is to make a survey of the so far reported literature citations about these valuable phytochemicals
and structurally related compounds about their modulatory properties of lipid and sugar
metabolism. Literature data have been acquired from the main Internet database. Several oxyprenylated
secondary metabolites have been surveyed. Among these, prenyloxycoumarins represented
the main group displaying valuable effects as modulators of lipid and sugar metabolism. The title
phytochemicals have been found in common fruits and vegetables already known to have beneficial
effects, thus enforcing the nutraceutical role of these food plants. All compounds outlined in
the present review article have a great potential in future for the prevention and management of
acute and chronic metabolic disorders.