Dihydrowogonin is a naturally occurring

flavonoid Flavonoids (or bioflavonoids; from the Latin word ''flavus'', meaning yellow, their color in nature) are a class of polyphenolic secondary metabolites found in plants, and thus commonly consumed in the diets of humans. Chemically, flavonoids ...

belonging to the

flavanone The flavanones, a type of flavonoids, are various aromatic, colorless ketones derived from flavone that often occur in plants as glycosides. List of flavanones * Blumeatin * Butin * Dichamanetin * Eriodictyol * Hesperetin * Hesperidin * Hom ...

subclass. It is characterized by a

flavan The flavans are benzopyran derivatives that use the 2-phenyl-3,4-dihydro-2''H''-chromene skeleton. They may be found in plants. These compounds include the flavan-3-ols, flavan-4-ols and flavan-3,4-diols (leucoanthocyanidin). A ''C''-glycosidic f ...

backbone with

hydroxyl In chemistry, a hydroxy or hydroxyl group is a functional group with the chemical formula and composed of one oxygen atom covalently bonded to one hydrogen atom. In organic chemistry, alcohols and carboxylic acids contain one or more hydroxy ...

and

methoxy In organic chemistry, a methoxy group is the functional group consisting of a methyl group bound to oxygen. This alkoxy group has the formula . On a benzene ring, the Hammett equation classifies a methoxy substituent at the ''para'' position a ...

functional groups, contributing to its biological activity. The compound has attracted interest due to its potential

antioxidant Antioxidants are Chemical compound, compounds that inhibit Redox, oxidation, a chemical reaction that can produce Radical (chemistry), free radicals. Autoxidation leads to degradation of organic compounds, including living matter. Antioxidants ...

anti-inflammatory Anti-inflammatory is the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation, fever or swelling. Anti-inflammatory drugs, also called anti-inflammatories, make up about half of analgesics. These drugs reduce pain by inhibiting mechan ...

, and

neuroprotective Neuroprotection refers to the relative preservation of neuronal structure and/or function. In the case of an ongoing insult (a neurodegenerative insult) the relative preservation of neuronal integrity implies a reduction in the rate of neuronal l ...

properties.

Chemical characteristics

Dihydrowogonin has been identified as a major constituent in the methanol extract of ''

Prunus avium ''Prunus avium'', commonly called wild cherry, sweet cherry or gean is a species of Prunus subg. Cerasus, cherry, a flowering plant in the rose family, Rosaceae. It is native to Eurasia and naturalized elsewhere. It is an ancestor of ''Prunus c ...

'' (wild cherry) bark. It has also been detected in other parts of the plant, such as leaves and stems.

Biological activity and applications

Studies have demonstrated that dihydrowogonin exhibits significant antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities, particularly against Gram-positive bacteria like ''

Staphylococcus aureus ''Staphylococcus aureus'' is a Gram-positive spherically shaped bacterium, a member of the Bacillota, and is a usual member of the microbiota of the body, frequently found in the upper respiratory tract and on the skin. It is often posi ...

''. Fractions enriched in dihydrowogonin showed a strong decrease in both planktonic growth and biofilm formation. Additionally, dihydrowogonin has been shown to interact with glutathione transferases in white-rot fungi, suggesting a role in the

detoxification Detoxification or detoxication (detox for short) is the physiological or medicinal removal of toxic substances from a living organism, including the human body, which is mainly carried out by the liver. Additionally, it can refer to the period o ...

processes during

wood degradation Wood degradation is a complex process influenced by various biological, chemical, and Biophysical environment, environmental Environmental factor, factors. It significantly impacts the durability and longevity of wood products and structures, nece ...

. Given its bioactive properties, dihydrowogonin is being explored for potential applications in pharmacology, particularly as an antimicrobial agent and in neuroprotective therapies. Its presence in plant extracts also indicates potential uses in natural product chemistry and medicinal applications.

References

{{Authority control Flavonoids Wood extracts Tree-derived bioactive compounds Diols Methoxy compounds

Chemical characteristics

Biological activity and applications

See also

References