Abstract

A REVIEW ON THE THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF IRIDOIDS

Aswini A. R.*, Lakshmi Gopal, Rosemary Joseph, Aparna Babu

ABSTRACT

Iridoids are a broad class of naturally occurring secondary metabolites of monoterpenoids that are found in many therapeutic plants. They are mostly found as iridoid glycosides, aglycones, secoiridoids, and bis-iridoids and are distinguished by a cyclopentan-[c]-pyran skeleton. Because of its wide spectrum of pharmacological properties, which include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, antibacterial, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, and anticancer effects, iridoids have garnered significant scientific attention in recent decades. Structural features like glycosylation, hydroxylation, esterification, acylation, and iridoid ring system cleavage affect their biological activity. Numerous molecular pathways, such as the control of NF-κB, MAPK, JAK/STAT, Nrf2/HO-1, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, AMPK, and PPARγ signaling, have been suggested.

Keywords: Iridoids; iridoid glycosides; secoiridoids; structure–activity relationship; anti-inflammatory; antioxidant; neuroprotection; hypolipidemic; hepatoprotection; molecular mechanisms.