medicinal plants on an array of chronic diseases including cancer, diabetes, and
neurological disorders are still being extensively studied, partly due to the necessity
arisen from decreasing efficacy of the contemporary drugs.
Meliaceae, the fast-growing flowering plant family, consists of medicinal
evergreens members that could withstand dry season in the tropical and subtropical
areas. Neem tree (Azadirachta indica) is one of the most well-known species
among members of the Meliaceae family for its wide health-promoting activities.
The scientific name of Azadirachta indica (Azadi = free, diracht = tree, indica = of
India, in Persian) literally denotes neem as a ‘free tree of India’, describing that the
tree is intrinsically free from insect and illnesses (Kumar and Navaratnam 2013).
Over the centuries, neem has been traditionally used by folklores for various purposes: The aqueous extract of neem leaf is used by Indians and Burmese to treat
malaria (Badam et al. 1987) while the neem leaf is added in toothpaste by German
and Indians for anti-septic purpose (Uko et al. 1995).
Over the decades, much attentions have been paid to discover the bioactive
compounds of the neem tree, in which more than 300 structurally complex
bioactive compounds have been purified and structurally characterized (Subapriya
and Nagini 2005). It has been reported that the vast biological activities of the neem
are contributed to some of the active constituents such as azadirachtin, gedunin,
nimbolinin, nimbin and quercetin (Alzohairy 2016). Over the years, tremendous
amount of attentions has been drawn to one of the bioactive compounds known as
gedunin. This limonoid type of tetranortriterpenoid compound consists of four
trans-fused six-membered rings with an oxirane annelated to the fourth ring. It has
been reported that gedunin possesses a vast array of biological activities such as
anti-cancer, anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and insect growth
inhibitory effects.
In addition to neem, gedunin and its natural occurring derivatives can be purified
from the other Meliacae family including cannonball mangrove (Xylocarpus
granatum), African mahogany (khaya grandifoliola) and Spanish cedar (Cedrela
odorata) (Bickii et al. 2000; Lakshmi et al. 2010; Brandt et al. 2008). The current
review summarizes the recent findings on the bioactivities of gedunin and its
derivatives, and also evaluate the potential and significance of gedunin and its
derivatives as a potential therapeutic agent.
16.2 Bioactivities of Gedunin
16.2.1 Anti-Cancer Properties of Gedunin
More than 60% of the clinically-approved anti-cancer drugs are derived from plants
and microorganisms. Owing to the genetic elasticity of cancer cells and the consequent emergence of chemoresistance, considerable attention has been drawn to
natural bioactive compounds with anti-cancer properties. Gedunin has been studied
16 An Overview of the Bioactivities of Gedunin
565
neurological disorders are still being extensively studied, partly due to the necessity
arisen from decreasing efficacy of the contemporary drugs.
Meliaceae, the fast-growing flowering plant family, consists of medicinal
evergreens members that could withstand dry season in the tropical and subtropical
areas. Neem tree (Azadirachta indica) is one of the most well-known species
among members of the Meliaceae family for its wide health-promoting activities.
The scientific name of Azadirachta indica (Azadi = free, diracht = tree, indica = of
India, in Persian) literally denotes neem as a ‘free tree of India’, describing that the
tree is intrinsically free from insect and illnesses (Kumar and Navaratnam 2013).
Over the centuries, neem has been traditionally used by folklores for various purposes: The aqueous extract of neem leaf is used by Indians and Burmese to treat
malaria (Badam et al. 1987) while the neem leaf is added in toothpaste by German
and Indians for anti-septic purpose (Uko et al. 1995).
Over the decades, much attentions have been paid to discover the bioactive
compounds of the neem tree, in which more than 300 structurally complex
bioactive compounds have been purified and structurally characterized (Subapriya
and Nagini 2005). It has been reported that the vast biological activities of the neem
are contributed to some of the active constituents such as azadirachtin, gedunin,
nimbolinin, nimbin and quercetin (Alzohairy 2016). Over the years, tremendous
amount of attentions has been drawn to one of the bioactive compounds known as
gedunin. This limonoid type of tetranortriterpenoid compound consists of four
trans-fused six-membered rings with an oxirane annelated to the fourth ring. It has
been reported that gedunin possesses a vast array of biological activities such as
anti-cancer, anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and insect growth
inhibitory effects.
In addition to neem, gedunin and its natural occurring derivatives can be purified
from the other Meliacae family including cannonball mangrove (Xylocarpus
granatum), African mahogany (khaya grandifoliola) and Spanish cedar (Cedrela
odorata) (Bickii et al. 2000; Lakshmi et al. 2010; Brandt et al. 2008). The current
review summarizes the recent findings on the bioactivities of gedunin and its
derivatives, and also evaluate the potential and significance of gedunin and its
derivatives as a potential therapeutic agent.
16.2 Bioactivities of Gedunin
16.2.1 Anti-Cancer Properties of Gedunin
More than 60% of the clinically-approved anti-cancer drugs are derived from plants
and microorganisms. Owing to the genetic elasticity of cancer cells and the consequent emergence of chemoresistance, considerable attention has been drawn to
natural bioactive compounds with anti-cancer properties. Gedunin has been studied
16 An Overview of the Bioactivities of Gedunin
565