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Naturally occurring thiophenes: isolation, purification, structural elucidation, and evaluation of bioactivities

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Abstract

Thiophenes are a class of heterocyclic aromatic compounds based on a five-membered ring made up of one sulfur and four carbon atoms. The thiophene nucleus is well established as an interesting moiety, with numerous applications in a variety of different research areas. Naturally occurring thiophenes are characteristic secondary metabolites derived from plants belonging to the family Asteraceae, such as Tagetes, Echinops, Artemisia, Balsamorhiza, Blumea, Pluchea, Porophyllum and Eclipta. Furthermore, naturally occurring thiophenes are generally composed of one to five thiophene rings that are coupled together through their α-carbons, and carry alkyl chains on their free ortho-positions. Thiophene-containing compounds possess a wide range of biological properties, such as antimicrobial, antiviral, HIV-1 protease inhibitor, antileishmanial, nematicidal, insecticidal, phototoxic and anticancer activities. This review focuses on naturally occurring thiophene derivatives; their sources, physical and spectral data, and biological activities.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Al Madinah Al Munawwarah, 30078, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Sabrin R. M. Ibrahim

  2. Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut, 71526, Egypt

    Sabrin R. M. Ibrahim

  3. Department of Natural Products and Alternative Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Hossam M. Abdallah, Ali M. El-Halawany & Gamal A. Mohamed

  4. Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, 11562, Egypt

    Hossam M. Abdallah & Ali M. El-Halawany

  5. Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut Branch, Assiut, 71524, Egypt

    Gamal A. Mohamed

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  1. Sabrin R. M. Ibrahim
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  2. Hossam M. Abdallah
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  3. Ali M. El-Halawany
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  4. Gamal A. Mohamed
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Correspondence to Ali M. El-Halawany.

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Ibrahim, S.R.M., Abdallah, H.M., El-Halawany, A.M. et al. Naturally occurring thiophenes: isolation, purification, structural elucidation, and evaluation of bioactivities. Phytochem Rev 15, 197–220 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-015-9403-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-015-9403-7

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