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Schiff bases, having azomethine group and their metal complexes are widely used for industrial purposes and also reveal a wide range of biological applications. This review describes the most promising biological activities of Schiff bases and their metal complexes. A general idea for synthetic methodologies used for the synthesis of Schiff bases and their metal complexes is also discussed.

Isoprenylated flavonoids 5,7-dihydroxy-3'-(2-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-butenyl)-3,6,4'-trimethoxyflavone (1), 3,7-dihydroxy-3'-(2-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-butenyl)-5,6,4'-trimethoxyflavone (2) and an isoprenylated acetophenone derivative (3) have been isolated from Duranta repens along with known compounds, 5-hydroxy-3,6,7,4'-tetramethoxyflavone (4), rosenonolactone (5), 6,7-dimethoxycoumarin (6), 5alpha,8alpha-epidioxyergosta-6,22-dien-3beta-ol (7) and 5alpha,8alpha-epidioxyergosta-6,9(11),22-trien-3beta-ol (8), isolated for the first time from this species. Their structures and the relative configuration were determined by spectroscopic methods (1H- and 13C-NMR, IR, UV and MS) and two-dimensional (2D)-NMR experiments. The compounds 1-5 showed inhibitory activity against prolyl endopeptidase while 4 and 5 were also active against thrombin.

Crispins A (1) and B (2), two new glycosphingolipids, were isolated from the whole plant Buddleja crispa, along with three known compounds: alpha-amyrin, linoleic acid, and stigmasterol. Their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic techniques. Both 1 and 2 showed significant inhibitory activity against alpha-chymotrypsin in a concentration-dependent manner.

Hispidone, a new flavanone, has been isolated from Onosma hispida and assigned the structure (2S)-5,2'-dihydroxy-7,4',5'-trimethoxyflavanone (1) by spectroscopic methods. In addition, (2S)-5,2'-dihydroxy-7,5'-dimethoxyflavanone (2), benzoic acid (3), and 4-hydroxy benzoic acid (4) are also reported for the first time from this species.