Molecules (Sep 2016)

A Review on the Terpenes from Genus Vitex

  • Jin-Long Yao,
  • Shi-Ming Fang,
  • Rui Liu,
  • Mahmood Brobbey Oppong,
  • Er-Wei Liu,
  • Guan-Wei Fan,
  • Han Zhang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules21091179
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 21, no. 9
p. 1179

Abstract

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The genus Vitex, which belongs to the Verbenaceae family, includes approximately 250 species. Some species of the genus Vitex have traditionally been used for the treatment of headaches, ophthalmodynia, coughs, asthma, premenopausal syndrome, etc. Chemical investigations indicate that the characteristic constituents of the genus Vitex are terpenes, and 210 of these compounds, including monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, diterpenoids and triterpenoids, have been obtained from 12 species. Pharmacological studies had shown that these terpenes possess anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antibacterial, antioxidant activities, and so on. In this paper, the identity of these terpenes and their pharmacological effects are reviewed, which can provide references for further research regarding the chemistry and utilization of the Vitex species.

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