Title:Biological Activities of Sesquiterpene Lactones Isolated from the Genus Centaurea L. (Asteraceae)
Volume: 23
Issue: 19
Author(s): Marina Sokovic*, Ana Ciric, Jasmina Glamoclija and Helen Skaltsa*
Affiliation:
- Institute for Biological Research, “Siniša Stanković”, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade,Serbia
- National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of Natural Products, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, 157 71, Athens,Greece
Keywords:
Centaurea, sesquiterpene lactones, antibacterial, antifungal, biological activities, plant metabolites.
Abstract: Background: In recent years, a growing interest has developed in the field of biological activity of
plant metabolites. Research in this area considering antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and
other properties, is currently expanding, reporting various species to possess such biological effects. Among
them, Centaurea species are well known to be used in ethnomedicine. The Centaurea genus (Asteraceae) is represented
by more than 500 species, mostly located in the Mediterranean region and Western Asia.
Methods: The current revision focuses on up-to-date literature on the isolation, structural elucidation and biological
properties of sesquiterepene lactones from Centaurea species, regarding antimicrobial, antitumour, antiviral,
anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic properties. The methods for extraction, isolation and identification are also
pointed out and the bioactivity of lactones as purified compounds discussed. Several general ideas about the
structural requirements for activity, based on the in vitro bioassays and the in silico prediction of their ADME
properties are discussed.
Results: Investigations of chemical analyses and biological potential exhibited that flavonoids and sesquiterpene
lactones, in particular germacranolides, eudesmanolides, elemanolides, and guaianolides, are compounds responsible
for the biological potential of plants. Sesquiterpene lactones represent a group of compounds responsible for
the medicinal characteristics of Centaurea species.
Discussion: Investigation of structure-activity relationships of all data helps the understanding of the bioactivity
resulting from chemical aspects. All activities are discussed profoundly, paying special attention to molecular
mechanisms involved in the implication of the health-beneficial effects of these compounds and in order to point
them out as candidates for new drug discovery, and as safe natural agents.
