Chemistry and Biological Activities of Naturally Occurring and Structurally Modified Podophyllotoxins.

Plants containing podophyllotoxin and its analogues have been used as folk medicines for centuries. The characteristic chemical structures and strong biological activities of this class of compounds attracted attention worldwide. Currently, more than ninety natural podophyllotoxins were isolated, and structure modifications of these molecules were performed to afford a variety of derivatives, which offered optimized anti-tumor activity. This review summarized up to date reports on natural occurring podophyllotoxins and their sources, structural modification and biological activities. Special attention was paid to both structural modification and optimized antitumor activity. It was noteworthy that etoposide, a derivative of podophyllotoxin, could prevent cytokine storm caused by the recent SARS-CoV-2 viral infection.

The Common Cichory (Cichorium intybus L.) as a Source of Extracts with Health-Promoting Properties-A Review.

Natural products are gaining more interest recently, much of which focuses on those derived from medicinal plants. The common chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), of the Astraceae family, is a prime example of this trend. It has been proven to be a feasible source of biologically relevant elements (K, Fe, Ca), vitamins (A, B1, B2, C) as well as bioactive compounds (inulin, sesquiterpene lactones, coumarin derivatives, cichoric acid, phenolic acids), which exert potent pro-health effects on the human organism. It displays choleretic and digestion-promoting, as well as appetite-increasing, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial action, all owing to its varied phytochemical composition. Hence, chicory is used most often to treat gastrointestinal disorders. Chicory was among the plants with potential against SARS-CoV-2, too. To this and other ends, roots, herb, flowers and leaves are used. Apart from its phytochemical applications, chicory is also used in gastronomy as a coffee substitute, food or drink additive. The aim of this paper is to present, in the light of the recent literature, the chemical composition and properties of chicory.

Podophyllotoxin: History, Recent Advances and Future Prospects.

Podophyllotoxin, along with its various derivatives and congeners are widely recognized as broad-spectrum pharmacologically active compounds. Etoposide, for instance, is the frontline chemotherapeutic drug used against various cancers due to its superior anticancer activity. It has recently been redeveloped for the purpose of treating cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients. Podophyllotoxin and its naturally occurring congeners have low bioavailability and almost all these initially discovered compounds cause systemic toxicity and development of drug resistance. Moreover, the production of synthetic derivatives that could suffice for the clinical limitations of these naturally occurring compounds is not economically feasible. These challenges demanded continuous devotions towards improving the druggability of these drugs and continue to seek structure-optimization strategies. The discovery of renewable sources including microbial origin for podophyllotoxin is another possible approach. This review focuses on the exigency of innovation and research required in the global R&D and pharmaceutical industry for podophyllotoxin and related compounds based on recent scientific findings and market predictions.