Chemistry and Biological Activities of Isoprenylated Flavonoids from Medicinal Plants (Moraceous Plants and Glycyrrhiza Species)

ABSTRACT: Among a large number of phenolic compounds isolated from natural source, various isoprenoid-substituted phenolic compounds have often been found in plants. Moraceous plants and licorice ( Glycyrrhiza species) are rich sources of the isoprenoid-substituted phenolic compounds, including flavonoids. Some of the Morus flavonoids, such as kuwanons G and H, have been regarded as optically active Diels-Alder type adducts. Furthermore, some of the isoprenylated-flavonoids from the moraceous plants and licorice showed the interesting biological activities. This article reviews the biological activities of the isoprenylated-flavonoids from the root barks and/or barks of moraceous plants and from Glycyrrhiza species by our group. The chemical studies concerning the biological activities of these compounds are also described briefly.