Abstract
The review summarizes the literature data concerning the chemical composition of secondary metabolites and the types of biological activity of extracts and separate groups of secondary metabolites of Impatiens balsamina. First, data are given concerning the different types of biological activity of the extracts. Further, individual groups of secondary metabolites are considered, the corresponding structural formulas and types of biological activity established for this group of secondary metabolites are given. An attempt has been made to present the material about chemical composition and types of biological activity in chronological order. Extracts of I. balsamina have been shown to exhibit antiallergic, antihypotensive, antitumor, antinociceptive, antioxidant, antirheumatoid, antimicrobial, and antifungal activities. Among the secondary metabolites, peptides, naphthoquinones, polysaccharides, saponins, flavanoids, polyphenols, and tetrahydronaphthalene derivatives were identified. Research on peptides with a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity is perspective. One of the most important groups of secondary metabolites are naphthoquinones, among which 2-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone is a significant metabolite, with which the antitumor effect of I. balsamina is associated. Also, this substance has shown in a number of tests an antifungal and antimicrobial activity exceeding the reference drug. Neuroprotective activity is simultaneously associated with a number of representatives of saponins, flavanoids, phenylpropanoids and tetrahydronaphthalene derivatives. This review shows that I. balsamina contains many groups of secondary metabolites, for which different types of biological activity have been identified. Due to the fact that the discussed plant is widely cultivated and is available, I. balsamina is a perspective object for the creation of new effective drugs.
Subject
Organic Chemistry,Plant Science,Biomaterials