A comprehensive review of non-alkaloidal metabolites from the subfamily Amaryllidoideae (Amaryllidaceae)

Amaryllidoideae is a subfamily belonging to the Amaryllidaceae and is widely distributed in the southern hemisphere. The subfamily is well known for its content of pharmacologically active alkaloids and represents an important epicenter of Amaryllidaceae-alkaloid diversity. Other metabolites from Amaryllidoideae such as phenolics including flavonoids, lignans, chromones, and acetophenones, in addition to terpenoids and ceramides, have been reported and received less attention compared to alkaloids. Currently, 224 non-alkaloidal compounds have been isolated and identified from ∼7% of the subfamily members. Many of the isolated compounds showed interesting biological activities. Isolation of certain compounds such as flavans and phytosterols from Amaryllidoideae has significant taxonomical value among the Amaryllidaceae subfamilies. This article represents an extensive review of the non-alkaloidal chemical constituents of Amaryllidoideae and their biological activities including a brief discussion of their chemotaxonomical importance.