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

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.