A Comprehensive Review of Medicarpin: A Phytoalexin with Therapeutic Potential

Initially, research on medicarpin focused on its role in crop protection, including gene modifications, allelopathic effects, antifungal potential, and biosynthetic mechanisms. Later, various biological activities were demonstrated through in vitro and in vivo studies, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiproliferative, and neuroprotective properties, with notable effects on bone metabolism. Recent progress has been made in developing synthetic routes for obtaining medicarpin and in analytical methods for its analysis and quantification. Studies on preclinical pharmacokinetics and advances in alternative synthesis of medicarpin are at the forefront of current research. Advancements in stability, toxicity, pharmaceutical technologies in formulations, and potential clinical applications are necessary but remain challenging. This review aims to provide critical insights and compile the main botanical, chemical, and therapeutic aspects of medicarpin, as well as the challenges and perspectives for the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields.