Naturally Occurring Xanthones and Their Biological Implications

Xanthones are chemical substances in higher plants, marine organisms, and lower microorganisms. The most prevalent naturally occurring sources of xanthones are those belonging to the families Caryophyllaceae, Guttiferae, and Gentianaceae. Structurally, xanthones (9H xanthan-9-one) are heterocyclic compounds with oxygen and a gamma-pyrone component. They are densely packed with a two-benzene ring structure. The carbons in xanthones are numbered from their nucleus and biosynthetic construct. They have mixed shikimate-acetate (higher plants) and acetate-malonate (lower organisms) biosynthetic origins, which influence their classification. Based on the level of oxidation of the C-ring, they are classified into monomers, dimers, and heterodimers. While based on the level of oxygenation or the type of ring residue, they can be categorized into mono-, di-, tri-, tetra-, penta- and hexa-oxygenated xanthones, bis-xanthones, prenylated and related xanthones, xanthonolignoids, and other miscellaneous xanthones. This structural diversity has made xanthones exhibit considerable biological properties as promising antioxidant, antifungal, antimicrobial, and anticancer agents. Structure-activity relationship studies suggest C-1, C-3, C-6, and C-8 as the key positions that influence the biological activity of xanthones. Furthermore, the presence of functional groups, such as prenyl, hydroxyl, glycosyl, furan, and pyran, at the key positions of xanthones, may contribute to their spectrum of biological activity. The unique chemical scaffolds of xanthones, their notable biological activities, and the structure-activity relationships of some lead molecules were discussed to identify lead molecules as possible drug candidates.