| Popis: |
Plants of the Meliaceae family have been well documented for their ability to metabolize structurally diverse and biologically significant limonoids. To search for potential bioactive compounds from Meliaceae plants, we have investigated the limonoids and other secondary metabolites of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (AI; neem tree) and Azadirachta indica A. Juss. var. siamensis Valeton (AIS; Siamese neem tree), and have isolated and characterized 81 limonoids, 1 diterpenoid, and 11 flavonoids. These compounds have been demonstrated potent bioactivities, including melanogenesis-inhibitory activity in B16 melanoma cells, inhibitory potential against 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced Epstein–Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) activation, a primary screening for inhibitors of tumor promotion, cytotoxic activities against human cancer cell lines, inhibitory activity against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells, a primary screening for antiinflammatory agents, and antiinflammatory activity against TPA-induced inflammation in mice. In this review chapter, isolation, characterization, and bioactivities, including melanogenesis-inhibitory activity, cancer chemopreventive property, cytotoxic activity, and antiinflammatory activity, of limonoids and other secondary metabolites of AI and AIS, which are mostly the results of our investigations are presented. |
