isoflavonoids: a comprehensive review of structural diversity, extraction, isolation, and pharmacological properties.

UNLABELLED

There are approximately 260 known species in the genus , many of which are used in traditional medicine to treat human and other animal ailments in various parts of the world. Being in the Leguminosae (Fabaceae) family, species are rich sources of isoflavonoids. In the past three decades alone, several isoflavonoids originating from have been isolated, and their pharmacological activities have been evaluated against major diseases, such as cancer, inflammation, and diabetes. Despite such extensive research, no recent and comprehensive review of the phytochemistry and pharmacology of isoflavonoids is available. Furthermore, the structural diversity of isoflavonoids in species has rarely been reported. In this review, we comprehensively summarized the structural diversity of isoflavonoids, the methods used for their extraction and isolation protocols, and their pharmacological properties. According to the literature, 154 structurally diverse isoflavonoids were isolated and reported from the various tissues of nine well-known species. Prenylated isoflavonoids and rotenoids were the most dominant subclasses of isoflavonoids reported. Other subclasses of reported isoflavonoids include isoflavans, aglycone isoflavones, glycosylated isoflavones, geranylated isoflavonoids, phenylcoumarins, pterocarpans and coumaronochromenes. Although some isolated molecules showed promising pharmacological properties, such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, estrogenic, and antibacterial activities, others remained untested. In general, this review highlights the potential of isoflavonoids and could improve their utilization in drug discovery and medicinal use processes.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11101-022-09845-w.