The dihydro-beta-agarofuran sesquiterpenoids.

Dihydro-Beta-agarofuran sesquiterpenoids are a structurally diverse class of natural products based on tricyclic 5,11-epoxy-5Beta,10alpha-eudesman-4-(14)-ene skeleton. Between January 1990 and June 2006, 462 new dihydro-Beta-agarofuran sesquiterpenoids of 74 structural types have been isolated from about 64 species of Celastraceae, 3 species of Hippocrateaceae and one species of Lamiaceae. The present review covers the chemical and biological activity research of dihydro-Beta-agarofuran sesquiterpenoids in the past 16 years. The chemical research includes structural classification into sesquiterpene polyesters and macrolide sesquiterpene pyridine alkaloids, synthesis of dihydro-Beta-agarofuran as well as extraction, isolation and purification methods. The biological activity research includes activities such as multidrug resistance (MDR) reversal activity, HIV inhibition, cytotoxicity, antitumor activity, antifeedant activity and insecticidal activity with some insights to their modes of actions.