Sustainable utilization of precious Chinese medicines: challenges and the road ahead

Hyperforin is a representative polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs) that exerts a variety of pharmacological activities. The complete biosynthesis pathway of hyperforin has not been elucidated due to its complex structure and unclear genetic background of its source plants. This mini-review focuses on the bioactivity and biosynthesis of hyperforin. These analyses can provide useful insights into the biosynthesis investigations of hyperforin and other PPAPs with complex structures.