Phthalides are a class of unique compounds such as ligustilide, butylphthalide and butyldenephthalide, which have shown to possess multiple bioactivities in new drug research and development. Phthalides are naturally distributed in different plants that have been utilized as herbal treatments for various ailments with a long history in Asia, Europe and North America. Their extensive biological activity has led to a dramatic increase in the study of phthalide compounds in recent years. This review summarizes the latest research progress of plant-derived phthalides, and a total of 133 phthalide compounds are described based on the characteristics of chemical structures. Pharmacological properties of plant-derived phthalides are associated with hemorheological improvement, vascular function modulation and central nervous system protection. Potential treatments for a variety of diseases mainly including cardio-cerebrovascular disorders and neurological complications such as Alzheimer's disease are also concluded. In addition, key metabolic pathways have been clearly elucidated. Further investigations on the molecular mechanisms involved in biological activity are recommended for offering new insights into profound comprehension of phthalide applications.

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植物源苯酞的植物化学和药理学研究进展


苯酞是一类独特的化合物，如藁本内酯、丁苯酞、丁苯酞等，在新药研发中已显示出具有多种生物活性。邻苯二甲酸酯自然分布在不同的植物中，在亚洲、欧洲和北美，这些植物被用作治疗各种疾病的草药，有着悠久的历史。近年来，其广泛的生物活性导致了苯酞化合物的研究急剧增加。本文综述了植物源苯酞的最新研究进展，根据化学结构特点，共描述了133种苯酞化合物。植物源苯酞的药理学特性与血液流变学改善、血管功能调节和中枢神经系统保护有关。还总结了多种疾病的潜在治疗方法，主要包括心脑血管疾病和阿尔茨海默病等神经系统并发症。此外，关键的代谢途径已得到明确阐明。建议对生物活性所涉及的分子机制进行进一步研究，以便为深入理解苯酞应用提供新的见解。