Biologically Active Diterpenoids in the Genus-A Review.

One of the key areas of interest in pharmacognosy is that of the diterpenoids; many studies have been performed to identify new sources, their optimal isolation and biological properties. An important source of abietane-, pimarane-, clerodane-type diterpenoids and their derivatives are the members of the genus , of the . Due to their diverse chemical nature, and the type of plant material, a range of extraction techniques are needed with various temperatures, solvent types and extraction times, as well as the use of an ultrasound bath. The diterpenoids isolated from demonstrate a range of cytotoxic, anti-proliferative, antibacterial, anti-parasitic and anti-inflammatory activities. This review describes the various biological activities of the diterpenoids isolated so far from species of with the indication of the most active ones, as well as those from other plant sources, taking into account their structure in terms of their activity, and summarises the methods for their extraction.