Other plant metabolites

Nature has provided a diverse array of secondary metabolites with intricate molecular scaffolding and significant pharmacological properties. Lignins, lignans, polyketide, and polyacetylene compounds are among the pharmacologically important secondary compounds found in plants. Biologically relevant lignans include podophyllotoxin and its semisynthetic derivatives etoposide and teniposide. Podophyllotoxin is used to treat genital warts. Etoposide and teniposide are chemotherapy drugs, with etoposide on the World Health Organization (WHO) Model List of Essential Medicines. Dietary lignans include pinoresinol, syringaresinol, matairesinol, and enterolactone. Pinoresinol and syringaresinol are antioxidant and antiinflammatory agents. Pinoresinol is metabolized to lariciresinol, secoisolariciresinol, and secoisolariciresinol diglucoside. Lariciresinol is an antibacterial agent, while secoisolariciresinol reduces systolic blood pressure. Mammalian metabolism of secoisolariciresinol provides matairesinol and enterolactone, both of which provide cardiovascular benefits. Polyketides encompass a variety of diverse structural motifs and include acetogenins, anthraquinones, flavonoids, and stilbenes. Polyketides are beneficial to human health and wellness. Key polyketides include anthraquinones, such as sennosides which are the active components of Senna, a laxative on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines. Flavonoids are widely distributed in herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Quercetin is an abundant flavonoid with activity against a range of human cancers and cardiovascular benefits due to its antioxidant and antiinflammatory actions. Resveratrol, a popular stilbene found in grapes, has anticancer and antiinflammatory properties. There are ongoing studies to probe the biological activities of these natural products for their potential benefits to human health.