Diterpenes biological activity against

Table I. Diterpenes with Known Biological Activity against Insects... 

Figure 31. Diterpene resin acids tested for biological activity against pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) larvae.

A variety of biological activities have been associated with labdane diterpenes including antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, enzyme induction, anti-inflammatory modulation of immune cell functions, as well as cytotoxic and cytostatic effects against human leukemic cell lines. 

Even though much is already known about the toxicity of diterpene alkaloids that contribute to the toxicity of Consolida, Delphinium, and Aconitium species, no antiviral study has been so far reported on this type of alkaloids. Therefore, no SAR studies have been encountered by us on the antiviral or antimicrobial activities of these alkaloids. However, a quantitative SAR analysis performed on a number of diterpene alkaloids isolated from an Aconitum sp. indicated that biological activity of these alkaloids may be related to their toxicity rather than to a specific pharmacological action [40]. In a current study on 43 norditerpenoid alkaloids from Consolida, Delphinium, and Aconitum species against several tumor cell lines, lycoctonine and browniine were... 

Also the clerodane class of diterpenes exhibited a wide range of biological activities. Of particular interest is asmarine A and B (9) [22] that showed antiproliferative activity against several human cancer cell lines and, clerocidin (10) [23], a naturally occurring antibiotic showing also anticancer... 

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