Recent Progress on the Identification of Phenanthrene Derivatives in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Their Biological Activities

In recent years, traditional Chinese medicines and active natural ingredients have been increasingly recognized for their medication effect worldwide. Phenanthrene derivatives, one of the main active ingredients in many Chinese herbal medicines such as Dendrobium, Bletilla, Juncaceae, have achieved great attention by botanists, biologists, and pharmacists due to their chemical structural diversity and practical biological activities. Nearly 200 natural phenanthrene compounds found from natural Chinese medicine plants are discussed in this review. Plants in the Orchidaceae, Juncaceae, Dioscoreaceae, and Lauraceae families, among others, produce phenanthrene chemicals. Furthermore, their medicinal effects and mechanisms of action are summarized, emphasizing anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, and anti-oxidative activities. It provides a foundation for further exploring and developing new drugs with phenanthrene compounds as the essential core structure.