Genus Gleditsia: A Phytochemical and Biological Review (2015-2020)

Gleditsia species were widely used traditionally for the treatment of GIT problems and skin diseases, especially in Chinese traditional medicine. Gleditsia species isolated compounds and biological activities were summarized in a previous review published in 2015. This work aims to review the isolated chemical compounds from Gleditsia species and their biological activities during the period from 2015 to 2021. More than eighty compounds belonging to flavonoids, triterpenoidal saponins, alkaloids, lignans or coumarins were isolated from Gleditsia triacanthos L., Gleditsia sinensis Lam., Gleditsia capsica Desf., Gleditsia aquatic Marshal, and Gleditsia japonica Miq. during this period. Triterpenoidal saponins and flavonoids were the most abundant constituents of Gleditsia species. Crude extracts, fractions and isolated compounds showed diverse cytotoxic, antimicrobial, antihyperlipidemic, analgesic, antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities. Some of the possible mechanisms of actions are reported in this review such as causing apoptosis, affecting adhesion, migration and size of cancer cells and decreasing the expression of cyclooxygenase, prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin (IL)-1β. According to this review, new compounds are still being isolated from Gleditsia species with promising biological activities. Further studies can be conducted to explore more bioactive compounds responsible for the pharmacological activities of genus Gleditsia and elucidate their mechanisms of action.