Are acylphloroglucinols lead structures for the treatment of degenerative diseases?

In recent years a widespread interest in the antidepressant activity of Hypericum perforatum L. has attracted much activity in investigating metabolites from the Guttiferae, many of which are biologically active compounds with an acylphloroglucinol moiety. A common background in the traditional uses of plants belonging to Guttiferae family is their wound healing properties which has been connected to the established antimicrobial activities of the phloroglucinols present. These metabolites share a common acylated 1,3,5-trihydroxy-benzene core of polyketide origin which undergoes alkylation processes. Polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols feature a highly oxygenated and densely substituted bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-1,3,5-trione core appended with prenyl or geranyl side chains. Secondary cyclizations involve the β-diketone and pendant olefmic groups affording adamantanes, homoadamantanes, dihydrofurano- or pyrano- fused structures. These products are claimed to possess antioxidative, antiviral and antimitotic properties. Increasing interest is related to their function in the CNS as modulators of neurotransmitters associated with neuronal damage and depression.