Auraptene and Umbelliprenin: a Review on Their Latest Acquisitions

Auraptene and umbelliprenin are among the most abundant naturally occurring prenyloxy umbelliferone derivatives. Both have been mainly isolated from plants belonging to numerous genera of the Rutaceae (in particular auraptene in Citrus spp.) and Apiaceae (in particular umbelliprenin in Ferula spp.) families, comprising different and widely used medicinal plants and in general plants having beneficial effects to human welfare as well as edible fruits and vegetables. Although known for quite a long time (nearly a century for auraptene and 50 years for umbelliprenin), only in the last two decades the two title natural compounds were revealed to possess valuable and promising pharmacological properties as dietary feeding active cancer chemopreventive, anti-bacterial, anti-protozoal, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anti-oxidant agents among the activities best detailed in the recent literature. The aim of this comprehensive review is to outline in detail the effects described in the very last years for auraptene and umbelliprenin and what has been reported about the mechanisms of action underlying the observed pharmacological activities of these oxyprenylated secondary metabolites. In view of the herein described data suggestions on how to address the future research about both natural products in the best ways according to Authors will be also provided.