Biflavonoids are dimers of monomeric flavonoids and have reported to
exhibit several pharmacological activities, like anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, antienzymatic, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-Perkinson, anti-ulcer, anti-hypertensive, antidiabetic, anti-depressant and anti-protozoan. Extensive research work on this important
segment of natural compounds is in progress. In this chapter, we report the progress of
research on natural biflavonoids from the period of 2005 to early 2020; it includes
enlisting newly isolated bioflavonoids from plant sources, biological activities
exhibited by the known as well as new compounds and synthetic strategies developed
for synthesizing such compounds. In this time period, a total of 247 biflavonoids have
been reported either in terms of their first-time appearance or evaluation of their
biological activities or both. Out of the reported 247 biflavonoids, 176 have been
reported as new compounds from natural plant sources. They have been reported to
exhibit a wide range of biological and pharmacological properties, including antimicrobial and antiviral, cytotoxic and anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-anoxic,
antioxidant, NO-inhibitory activity, anti-enzymatic, anti-HIV, anti thrombin, antiallergic, cytoprotective, neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory, which have been
discussed in a comprehensive manner. Different synthetic strategies that have been
reported for the synthesis of structurally different biflavonoids are also included. This
chapter cites 177 references.
Keywords: Anti-cancer, Anti-diabetic, Anti-enzymatic, Anti-microbial, Antioxidant, Antiviral, Biflavonoids, Biological activities, Cytotoxic, Natural distribution, Nomenclature, Occurrence, Structural aspects, Synthesis.
