Genus Salacia: Chemical Composition, Antidiabetic Effect and other Bioactivities

The plants of Salacia genus (Celastraceae) have distribution in tropical areas, especially in regions of Asia as in India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia, and in South America, as in Brazil. Around the world, about 120 species are known. Salacia`s species are known to elaborate secondary metabolites like anthocyanidines, catechins, phenolic acids, quinones, friedo-oleanones, quinonemethide and related triterpenoids (celastroloids). Biological activities have been reported for crude extracts, fractions and isolated compounds, which are mainly antidiabetic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. This review aims to identify key species, their chemical components, and the reported bioactivity as a guide to future research about this genus.