Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Activities of the Genus Nageia

There are seven species in the genus Nageia, a member of the Podocarpaceae family; five are found in China. They are primarily found in eastern and southern Asia, close to the equator at the 30th parallel north and south, and in coastal mountainous areas and islands in the western Pacific. These herbs are extremely valuable for medicinal purposes. The three species of Nageia that are the subject of most current research on their chemical composition and pharmacological properties are N. nagi, N. fleuryi, and N. wallichiana. There are currently 232 known chemical components, which include steroids, flavonoids, sesquiterpenoids, and diterpenoids. Of these, 86 diterpenoid dilactones comprise most of the chemical components, and only plants of the Nageia genus contain C -ring decarbonized diterpenoid dilactones. These plants exhibit promising pharmacological activities such as anti-tumor, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. For the first time, an in-depth and systematic evaluation of the chemical constituents and pharmacological properties of plants in the Nageia genus is presented in the this article. This theoretical framework will help in the future investigation and development of medicinal resources and active ingredients within the genus.