Chemical and Biological Aspects of the Natural 1,4-Benzoquinone Embelin and its (semi-)Synthetic Derivatives

Title:Chemical and Biological Aspects of the Natural 1,4-Benzoquinone Embelin and its (semi-)Synthetic Derivatives

Volume: 24 Issue: 18

Author(s): Priti Singh Shuveksh, Khursheed Ahmed, Subhash Padhye, Rainer Schobert and Bernhard Biersack*

Affiliation:

• Organic Chemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, Chemistry, and Earth Sciences, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, 95440 Bayreuth,Germany

Keywords: Embelin, natural products, benzoquinone, antioxidant, drug design, (semi-)synthetic embelin derivatives.

Abstract: Background: Like the impressive biological properties of embelin, its chemical aspects have raised the interest of scientists in the field as well. A detailed understanding of the chemistry of embelin is necessary to fully exploit it medicinally.

Methods: Search for embelin isolation and its chemical modifications was carried out using web-based literature searching tools such as Pubmed and Scifinder. Pertinent literature is covered up to 2016. Structures of bioactive embelin derivatives are provided.

Results: Pure embelin, obtained from Embelia ribes berries extraction or by total synthesis, was applied for a number of biological assays. Semi-synthetic and total synthetic approaches led to new high affinity embelin-derived inhibitors of crucial protein targets and to new embelin derivatives with improved pharmacological properties (e.g., with better water-solubility or as applications for drug carrier systems).

Conclusion: This review provides a summary of the rich chemistry of embelin and the latest developments in the field of optimized (semi-)synthetic embelin derivatives including their biological activities.

Cite this article as:

Shuveksh Singh Priti, Ahmed Khursheed , Padhye Subhash, Schobert Rainer and Biersack Bernhard*, Chemical and Biological Aspects of the Natural 1,4-Benzoquinone Embelin and its (semi-)Synthetic Derivatives, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2017; 24 (18) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0929867324666170116125731

DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0929867324666170116125731	Print ISSN 0929-8673
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher	Online ISSN 1875-533X