A review on phenolic compounds in Illicium species and their pharmacological effects

Abstract

This review focuses mainly on findings of chemistry and pharmacological activities of phenolic compounds in Illicium plants. The continued chemical studies of Illicium species such as I.difengpi, I.verum, I.griffithii, I.henryi, and the related plants have resulted in isolation of phenylpropanoids, neolignans, phytoquinoids, flavonoids, neolignans and their glycosides which belong to the phenolic group of compounds. These compounds have been known to exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, antifungal and insecticidal activities.