Nitrogen-containing secondary metabolites from Meliaceae Family and their biological activity: a review

Abstract

The Meliaceae family, widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, has been traditionally used for medicinal purposes, particularly in treating infections and inflammatory diseases. The objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive account of the nitrogen-containing secondary metabolites and their biological activities that have been isolated from the Meliaceae family between the years 1979 and 2024. Studies on nitrogen-containing compounds of the Meliaceae family were collected and analyzed using data from SciFinder, PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus and World Flora Online. Over the course of more than four decades, numerous studies have been conducted on a variety of plant parts, including twigs, stems, barks, roots, fruits, seeds, and leaves. These studies have identified approximately 326 compounds belonging to diverse chemical groups, such as alkaloids, limonoids, triterpenoids, and nitrogen-containing flavaglines being the largest group of natural products, comprising 118 compounds (36.2%). Several compounds have been evaluated for insecticidal, anti-inflammatory, molluscicide, antibacterial, antimalarial, tyrosinase inhibition, osteoclast differentiation inhibition, and α-glucosidase inhibition activity. The systematic classification and analysis of these compounds provide insights into their biosynthesis and bioactivities, paving the way for future drug development.

Graphical Abstract