An Overview of Limonoids and Other Natural Products Isolated from the Medicinal Plant Cipadessa baccifera and Its Pharmacological Properties

The Asian medicinal plant Cipadessa baccifera (Roth) Miq., also known as C. fruticosa or C. cinerascens (Ranabili or Nalbila), has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat dysentery, skin disorders, rheumatism and parasitic infections. Extracts prepared from the leaves, seeds or fruits of the plant have revealed activities against mosquito vectors of parasitic diseases, notably marked larvicidal activities. Plant extracts have shown insecticidal and antibacterial activities, in addition to antioxidant effects. Numerous natural products at the origin of these pharmacological effects have been identified from all parts of the plant, from roots to leaves and seeds. The phytochemical survey presented here led to the identification of about 200 natural products isolated from C. baccifera, including a large majority of limonoids (>170), in addition to steroids, terpenoids, and a few other products. The panel of limonoids is extremely diversified with multiple groups of compounds: cipacinerasins, cipacinoids, cipacyclonone, cipadesins, cipadessains, cipadessalide, cipadonoids, cipafera, cipaferens, cipaferoids, ciparasins, cipatrijugins, cineracipadesins, cinerascenoids, and cipacinerasins. There are a few interesting bioactive products in Cipadessa, such as the anticancer agents cipaferen G and cipacyclonone, and the anti-inflammatory molecules cipadessain D and methyl-angolensate. Other bioactive products are discussed, such as cryptomeridiol, khayasin T, and febrifugin. An overview of Cipadessa phytochemicals is provided here to shed light on this under-valued medicinal plant.