Alisma genus: Phytochemical constituents, biosynthesis, and biological activities

Abstract

The genus Alisma contains 11 species distributed worldwide, of which at least two species (A. orientale [Sam.] Juzep. and A. plantago‐aquatica Linn.) have been used as common herbal medicines. Secondary metabolites obtained from the genus Alisma are considered to be the material basis for the various biological functions and medicinal applications. In this review, we mainly focused on the recent investigations of secondary metabolites from plants of the genus Alisma and their biological activities, with the highlighting on the diversity of the chemical structures, the biosynthesis of interesting secondary metabolites, the biological activities, and the relationships between structures and bioactivities.

Promising Anticancer Activities of Alismatis rhizome and Its Triterpenes via p38 and PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathways

“…According to previous phytochemical investigations on crude AR since the 1960s, more than 200 chemical compounds have been isolated and identified from the plant [ 9 ]. The principal bioactive constituents obtained from AR can be largely categorized as triterpenes, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, flavonoid compounds, phenylpropionic acids, and alkaloids [ 9 ].…”

“…According to previous phytochemical investigations on crude AR since the 1960s, more than 200 chemical compounds have been isolated and identified from the plant [ 9 ]. The principal bioactive constituents obtained from AR can be largely categorized as triterpenes, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, flavonoid compounds, phenylpropionic acids, and alkaloids [ 9 ]. Among these components, protostane-type triterpenes isolated from AR have been reported to exert various biological functions, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antitumor activities [ 9 ].…”

“…The principal bioactive constituents obtained from AR can be largely categorized as triterpenes, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, flavonoid compounds, phenylpropionic acids, and alkaloids [ 9 ]. Among these components, protostane-type triterpenes isolated from AR have been reported to exert various biological functions, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antitumor activities [ 9 ]. In particular, 13 protostane triterpenoids, including AA ( Figure 1 a), AB ( Figure 1 b), alisol F (AF), and AB23A ( Figure 1 c), among approximately 84 natural protostane-type triterpenes, displayed significant anticancer effects against HepG2 cells [ 13 ].…”

“…Several terpenoids, such as artemisinin, tanshinone IIA, oridonin, and lycopene, are candidate bioactive compounds for antitumor drug discovery [ 8 ]. Alismatis rhizome ( AR ) has been commonly used to ameliorate a wide spectrum of disorders, such as hypertension, diabetes, edema, dizziness, hyperlipidemia, inflammation, oliguria, and leukorrhea [ 9 , 10 ]. Recently, accumulating experimental studies have shown that AR and its compounds display significant pharmacological activities against various types and stages of cancers, as well as anti-inflammatory, antihyperlipidemia, diuretic, and neuroprotective effects [ 9 ].…”

“…Alismatis rhizome ( AR ) has been commonly used to ameliorate a wide spectrum of disorders, such as hypertension, diabetes, edema, dizziness, hyperlipidemia, inflammation, oliguria, and leukorrhea [ 9 , 10 ]. Recently, accumulating experimental studies have shown that AR and its compounds display significant pharmacological activities against various types and stages of cancers, as well as anti-inflammatory, antihyperlipidemia, diuretic, and neuroprotective effects [ 9 ]. In particular, triterpenoids, novel candidates for anticancer drugs, are predominantly found in rhizomes of Alisma plants, and several triterpene components isolated from AR have been reported to exhibit prominent anticancer activities [ 11 , 12 ].…”