Natural Alkamides: Pharmacology, Chemistry and Distribution

Alkamides are a broad and expanding group of bioactive natural compounds found in at least 33 plant families. Despite the relatively simple molecular architecture of alkamides (fig. 1), these natural products show broad structural variability and an important range of biological activities, such as immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, larvicidal, insecticidal, diuretic, pungent, analgesic, cannabimimetic and antioxidant activities. Additionally, alkamides are involved in the potentiation of antibiotics and the inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis, RNA synthesis and the arachidonic acid metabolism, among others.