Isolation and Bioactivities of Limonoids from Meliaceae Family: A Review

Abstract: Limonoids are the most representative metabolites present in the order Rutales, which includes the families Rutaceae, Meliaceae and Cneoraceae. They are tetranortriterpenoids with a 4,4,8-trimethyl-17-furanylsteroidal skeleton, containing several oxygenated functions. The Meliaceae family consists of 50 genera with more than 1400 species distributed in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Plants of this family are found to be rich in limonoids. Limonoids from Meliaceae family exhibit a diverse range of bioactivities cytotoxic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antimalarial, and antifeedant, activities and some of them have been commercially used for different purposes. Numerous studies on limonoids from Meliaceae family and their bioactivities have been reported recently. This review covers the isolation and structure determination of limonoids reported during 2012–2022. 1172 novel limonoids in 118 papers have been summarized. Furthermore, important biological activities of these limonoids have also been outlined. This review can provide useful information for medicinal and pesticidal chemistry and phytochemistry researchers who are interested in the chemistry and biology of limonoids.