Sesquiterpene lactones: Structural diversity and their biological activities

Sesquiterpenes lactones (SLs) have been isolated from numerous genera of the family Asteraceae (compositae) and can also be found in other angiosperm families. They are described as the active constituents of a variety of medicinal plants used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. They are known to possess wide variety of biological and pharmacological activities such as antimicrobial, cytotoxic, antiinflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal activities, effects on the central nervous and cardiovascular systems as well as allergenic potency. Their wide structural diversity and potential biological activities have made further interest among the chemists. The present chapter will be highlighted on the recent developments on the SLs and their diverse biological activities.