A review on the structure, distribution, and biological activities of biflavonoids in clusiaceae

Background: The Clusiaceae family is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical climates, with a rich source of structurally diverse metabolites. Among these, biflavonoids stand out due to their complex structures and significant pharmacological activities. This review aims to examine data on various Clusiacean biflavonoids, their structural diversity, and bioactivity, thereby increasing the understanding of their implications in both traditional and modern medicine. Methodology: Data were collected from electronic databases like PubMed, Elsevier, Springer, and Google Scholar. The structural categorization of biflavonoids was based on the nature of linkage and substituent variations that influence their biological activities. Their distribution across Clusiacean members further highlights their chemotaxonomic importance. Additionally, structure-activity relationship studies reveal that specific linkages and functional groups enhance biological activity. Results and Discussion: Studies indicate that Clusiacean biflavonoids are potential candidates for drug discovery and therapeutic development due to their varied pharmacological activities. Approximately 21 biflavonoids from Clusiacean members are included in this review; nine of them exhibit antioxidant, five antimicrobial, five early antigen inhibition, four monoamine oxidase inhibition, three anti-inflammatory, three neuromuscular transmission inhibition, one antidiabetic, one anti-aging, and one hypocholesterolemic activity. Conclusion: Clusiacean biflavonoids possess desirable compounds for drug development owing to their diverse pharmacological activities, including antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties, and so on. Overall, this article analyzes different biflavonoids obtained from Clusiaceae species, focusing on their structural diversity, biological importance, and structure-activity relationships.