Abstract

Covering: 1969 up to 2021

Sesterterpenoids, biosynthetically derived from the precursor, namely geranylfarnesyl diphosphate (GFDP) are amongst the rarest of all isoprenoids with approximately 1300 compounds known. Most sesterterpenoids originate from marine organisms (especially sponges), while only about 15% of these compounds are isolated from several families of plants such as Lamiaceae, Gentianaceae, and Nartheciaceae. Many plant sesterterpenoids possess highly oxygenated and complex cyclic skeletons and exhibit remarkable biological activities involving cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antifeedant properties. Thus, due to their intrinsic chemical complexity and intriguing biological profiles, plant sesterterpenoids have attracted continuing interest from both chemists and biologists. However, the biosynthesis and distribution of sesterterpenoids in the plant kingdom still remain elusive, although substantial progress has been achieved in recent years. This review provides an overall coverage of sesterterpenoids originating from plant sources, followed by a classification of their chemical skeletons, which summarizes the distribution, chemistry, biological activities, biosynthesis and evolution of plant sesterterpenoids, aiming at strengthening the research efforts toward the untapped great potential of these unique natural product resources.

For full text, please click https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2021/NP/D1NP00021G

Introduction to Sheng-Hong Li

Sheng-Hong Li received his PhD Degree in Phytochemistry from Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2001. After that he worked as an Assistant Professor and then Associate Professor at the same institute. In 2004, he moved to the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Germany for his postdoctoral research with Prof. Jonathan Gershenzon and Dr Bernd Schneider. From 2007 to 2020, he was employed as a Full Professor and group leader by Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Currently he is Vice President of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. He received the Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship in 2005 and National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars in 2015 and was selected as a member of the National Ten Thousand Talent Program (2018), and the Hundred Talent Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (2010). He has published over 120 research papers. His major research interests focus on the chemistry, biological functions and biosynthesis of plant natural products especially various types of terpenoids.