Table 2.
Biological activity of selected phytochemicals from Mercurialis spp.
| Chemical Class | Phytochemicals | Biological Activity | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flavonoids | Rutin (1) | Spasmolytic | [52] |
| Anti-hyperglycemic | [45,46,47] | ||
| Anti-oxidant | [47,53] | ||
| Narcissin (2) | Anti-hypertensive | [48] | |
| Quercetin (3) | Spasmolytic | [54,55] | |
| Antidiarrhoeal | [56] | ||
| Anti-hypertensive | [57] | ||
| Kaempferol (4) | Anti-oxidant | [58] | |
| Anti-inflammatory | [59] | ||
| Anticancer | [60] | ||
| Spasmolytic | [61] | ||
| Coumarins | Scopoletin (5) | Spasmolytic | [62] |
| Anti-inflammatory | [63,64] | ||
| Hepatoprotective | [65] | ||
| Phenolic acid | Caffeic Acid (6) | Anti-oxidant | [66] |
| Ferulic acid (7) | Antidiabetic | [67] | |
| Cholagogue and Choleretic | [68] | ||
| Phenolic | n-Alkylresorcinol (8) | Muscle atrophy prevention | [69] |
| Lipids | Anti-obesity and glucose intolerance suppression | [70] | |
| Simple Phenolics | 4-Methoxyphenol (9) | Skin Depigmentation | [49,50,51] |
| Alkaloids | Hermidin (10) | Not described | - |
| Diterpenes | trans-Phytol (11) | Aromatase Inhibitor Treatment of estrogen-dependent cancer |
[71] |
| Triterpenes | Squalene (12) | Anti-hypercholesterolemic | [72,73] |
| Antihypertriglyceridemic | [73] | ||
| Anti-oxidant | [73] | ||
| Anti-inflammatory | [73] | ||
| Steroids | Cycloartenol (13) | Anti-inflammatory | [74] |
| Antitumor | |||
| Anti-oxidant | |||
| β-Sitosterol (14) | Prevention of Streptococcus pneumoniae (lung) infection | [75] |