Component Composition and Some Features of Biological Activity of Cuscuta L.

The review summarizes data on the taxonomy, distribution, component composition and main types of biological activity of Cuscuta L., the most widespread in Russia. Host plant volatiles have been shown to play an important role for the parasitic plant Cuscuta in host selection. Large-scale interplant protein translocation has been discovered that plays an important role in interactions between host plant and dodder and even between hosts connected by a dodder bridge. Currently, biologically active compounds of parasites of the genus Cuscuta L. have been studied in detail. The diverse chemical composition directly correlates with certain types of pharmacological activity. Data on the chemical composition of the main groups of Cuscuta metabolites are summarized, indicating specific compounds. The main classes of analyzed objects were: flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, lignans, steroids, fatty acids, polysaccharides, resin glycosides and volatile oils. The diverse chemical composition directly correlates with certain types of pharmacological activity: estrogenic, hepatoprotective, cytotoxic, hypoglycemic, antimicrobial, antitumor, antioxidant. Antifibrotic and antiosteoporotic effects were also studied. The information presented in the review shows that plants of the genus Cuscuta are promising for further study.