Phytochemical and biological studies of Abies species.

In the present review, the literature data on the phytochemical and biological investigations on the genus of Abies are summarized with 110 references. Up to now, 277 compounds were isolated from 19 plants of Abies species. The chemical constituents are mostly terpenoids, flavonoids, and lignans, together with minor constituents of phenols, steroids, and others. The crude extracts and metabolites have been found to possess various bioactivities including insect juvenile hormone, antitumor, antimicrobial, anti-ulcerogenic, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, antitussive, and CNS (central nervous system) activities.