Furochinoline alkaloids in plants from Rutaceae family – a review

What is it about?

Over the past five years, phytochemical and pharmacological studies have been conducted on material extracted from members of the Rutaceae family. In such work, new furochinoline-structured alkaloids were isolated from Ruta sp. and Dictamnus sp. Beyond the aforementioned, other substances with promising activity were isolated from the less-known species of Zanthoxylum, Evodia, Lonchocarpus, Myrthopsis and Teclea. Currently used forms of extraction, as well as methods of isolation and detection, allow the obtaining of pure, biologically active compounds. Many of these have anti- fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-plasmodial properties. Others are still being researched as potential drugs, which, in future, may be used in treating those afflicted with HIV and cancer. This article is designed to give the readers a thorough review of the active natural products from the Rutaceae family.

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Why is it important?

The Rutaceae family is a potential source of many medicinal substances. New research shows their other possibilities of therapeutic use. The article introduces their methods of preparation, pharmacological action and chemical structure in the light of the latest discoveries.

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