Chemistry of secondary metabolites and their antimicrobial activity in the drug development process: A review of the genus Anogeissus

The significance of secondary metabolites as antimicrobial agents and its chemistry in the drug development process is reviewed. The genus Anogeissus (Combretaceae) is widely distributed in most tropical and subtropical countries of the world. Anogeissus is a genus of trees, shrubs or small trees. The genus has eight species, five native to South Asia, two indigenous to the southern Arabian Peninsula, and one native to Africa. Anogeissus have long been used in traditional medicine to treat a broad spectrum of disorders. Chemical constituents isolated from genus Anogeissus so far include amino acids, terpenoids (and their glycoside derivatives); steroids; flavonoids and their glycosides; tannins and other phenolic compounds and lignan. The focus of this review has been on the phytochemistry of the species of Anogeissus and the bioactivities of their various metabolites for general potential in drug development.