[Research progress in phthalides in medicinal species of Apiaceae and their pharmacological activities]

Plants of Apiaceae represent an important group of Chinese medicinal herbs. Phthalides, as the key bioactive constituents in these plants, exhibit a wide range of pharmacological effects and possess significant research value. This article systematically reviews recent advances in the chemical structures and pharmacological activities of phthalides derived from medicinal species of Apiaceae. To date, 295 phthalides have been isolated and identified from these plants, and they can be categorized into four structural types: monomeric phthalides, dimeric phthalides, trimeric phthalides, and phthalide heteropolymers. This article comprehensively discussed the structural diversity of dimeric and trimeric phthalides, including various [2+2] and [4+2] cycloaddition coupling modes and their proposed biosynthetic pathways. It is noted that enantiomerism is prevalent among these compounds. Specifically, most dimeric phthalides, all trimeric phthalides, and some phthalide heteropolymers and monomeric phthalides have been obtained as racemates. Pharmacological studies have revealed that these compounds exhibit notable neuroprotective, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and cerebrovascular disease-preventing activities. Among them, butylphthalide has been successfully applied in clinical practice. By providing a comprehensive overview of phthalides in medicinal species of Apiaceae and their pharmacological properties, this review aims to support further development and utilization of these plants and facilitate innovative drug research.