The Southern Modern Forestry Collaborative Innovation Center, State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China.
CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Instituteof Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
J Agric Food Chem. 2024 Oct 23;72(42):23039-23052. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c06383. Epub 2024 Oct 8.
Agarwood, derived from the genus, is widely utilized in perfumery, traditional medicine, and cultural practices throughout Asia. Agarwood is rich in terpenes, especially sesquiterpenes, which are considered to be the source of its rare and exquisite fragrance. This Review consolidates recent research on sesquiterpene biosynthesis in agarwood and the influence of fungi on these processes, alongside a discussion of the potential medicinal value of agarwood sesquiterpenes. This Review commences by elucidating the general biosynthesis of sesquiterpenes and identifying the main enzymes and transcription factors involved in the production of agarwood sesquiterpenes. This Review also summarizes the fungi associated with agarwood and highlights how commensal fungi stimulate agarwood and sesquiterpene production. We then scrutinize the pharmacological properties of sesquiterpenes, underscoring their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, which are closely linked to cellular signaling pathways, such as the NF-κB and MAPK pathways. Additionally, we review the potential therapeutic benefits of agarwood essential oil for its antidepressant properties, which are linked to the regulation of stress-related neurochemical and hormonal pathways. This Review also addresses the challenges of sustainable agarwood production, highlighting issues such as overharvesting and habitat loss while discussing the potential strategy of harnessing microbes in agarwood production to support the ecological preservation of wild resources. By advancing our knowledge of agarwood and sesquiterpene characteristics, we propose potential directions for the future application and sustainable development of agarwood research.
沉香，源自 属，在亚洲的香水、传统医学和文化实践中被广泛应用。沉香富含萜类化合物，特别是倍半萜类化合物，这些化合物被认为是其稀有和独特香气的来源。本综述整合了沉香中倍半萜生物合成以及真菌对这些过程影响的最新研究，并讨论了沉香倍半萜的潜在药用价值。本综述首先阐明了倍半萜的一般生物合成途径，并确定了参与沉香倍半萜生物合成的主要酶和转录因子。本综述还总结了与沉香有关的真菌，并强调了共生真菌如何刺激沉香和倍半萜的产生。然后，我们仔细研究了倍半萜的药理学特性，强调其抗炎和抗菌作用，这些作用与细胞信号通路密切相关，如 NF-κB 和 MAPK 通路。此外，我们还综述了沉香精油在抗抑郁方面的潜在治疗益处，这与应激相关神经化学和激素通路的调节有关。本综述还讨论了可持续沉香生产面临的挑战，强调了过度采伐和栖息地丧失等问题，同时还讨论了利用微生物在沉香生产中支持野生资源生态保护的潜在策略。通过深入了解沉香和倍半萜的特性，我们为未来沉香研究的应用和可持续发展提出了潜在的方向。
