# Chemical Constituents and Biological Activities of Oxandra (Annonaceae): A Review

## TL;DR

This paper reviews the chemical makeup and biological effects of Oxandra plants, highlighting their potential for drug discovery.

## Contribution

The study provides the first comprehensive review of Oxandra's chemical constituents and biological activities.

## Key findings

- 64 compounds, including alkaloids and flavonoids, were identified across six Oxandra species.
- Velutinam showed strong inhibitory activity against kinases linked to neurodegenerative disorders.
- Oxandra species exhibit a range of biological activities like antioxidant and antimicrobial effects.

## Abstract

Oxandra (Annonaceae) comprises 29 species distributed across South and Central America. Despite this diversity, the genus remains under‐investigated. This study presents the first comprehensive review of the chemical composition and biological activities of Oxandra species, utilizing databases such as SciFinder, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar, with a period up to 2025. As results, only six species had their chemical and/or biological studies reports. Nevertheless, 64 compounds were identified, including alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenes, and steroids. Reported biological activities include anticorrosive, antioxidant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, antiparasitic, anti‐inflammatory, and antihyperglycemic effects. Significantly, the compound velutinam demonstrated potent inhibitory activity against DYRK1A (0.6 µM) and CDK1/cyclin B (1.5 µM), kinases associated with neurodegenerative disorders, indicating the way for promising studies in the fields of phytochemistry and pharmacology. This review evaluates the phytochemistry and biological activities of the genus Oxandra, integrating chemical and pharmacological knowledge to propose future directions for research on this genus.