Phytochemistry and biological activities of genus Chloranthus: a review

Chloranthus is a genus within the family Chloranthaceae, comprising perennial herbs or shrub plants. There are 15 recognised species of Chloranthus. The chemical constituents of Chloranthus plants are diverse and feature many novel sesquiterpene skeletons. Their pharmacological activities are extensive, warranting in-depth research and discussion. This paper reviews and discusses the newly discovered chemical and biological activities of Chloranthus from the past 10 years, including 241 terpenoids, 26 phenylpropanoids, 17 flavonoids, 13 amides, 8 phenolic acids and 14 other compounds identified from 2013 to 2023. In terms of biological activity, extensive studies on the anti-tumour, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and other effects of Chloranthus plants are summarised. In this paper, the phytochemistry and pharmacology of Chloranthus were reviewed, and the active structure-activity relationship of these compounds was discussed in order to comprehensively summarise the related research progress of Chloranthus.