Synthetic Studies on Resin Glycosides

Abstract

Resin glycosides are plant glycolipids, which are mainly isolated from convolvulaceous (morning glory family) plants. Though they were formerly studied as the major components of traditional folk medicines, unique biological activities have been recently reported such as cytotoxicity against cancer cells, anitimicrobial activity, and plant growth regulatory effects. Most resin glycosides with bioactivity have a macrolidic structure as a result of intramolecular esterification between a carboxylic group at the aglycon fatty acid and one of the sugar hydroxyl groups. Stimulated by these notable structural and biochemical features, extensive studies on the total synthesis of resin glycosides have been completed. In this review, we describe recent progress in the chemical synthesis of resin glycosides.