2-Methoxyjuglone, a Promising Bioactive Compound for Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Purposes: A Review.

2-Methoxyjuglone, a member of the 1,4-naphthoquinone family, was first obtained through semi-synthesis based on 2-hydroxyjuglone as the precursor in 1966. It has been isolated and identified from different plant species of the Juglandaceae, Sterculiaceae, and Proteaceae families. 2-Methoxyjuglone has been demonstrated to possess a wide range of biological activities, including antitumor, antifungal, and antibacterial activities; in addition, it has been shown to poison fish and inhibit seed germination. These properties make 2-methoxyjuglone a promising bioactive compound for pharmaceutical and agricultural purposes. This review article provides an overview of the current research progress on 2-methoxyjuglone for the first time, with a primary focus on the plant sources, extraction, identification, synthesis, and biological activities associated with this compound for further development.