The plant family Myrtaceae comprised approximately 140 genera and 5500 species, which are well-known for producing structurally diverse phloroglucinols. In recent years, with the rapid development of chromatographic and spectroscopic technologies, a large number of Myrtaceae phloroglucinols (MPs) have been discovered. Only in the last five years (from 2015 to 2019), there are more than 350 novel MPs (60% of the total MPs) had been reported. Structurally, these new MPs incorporated different types of biogenetic precursors via various coupling patterns. Such incorporations not only resulted in the fascinating architectures and ring systems with densely functionalized and complex stereochemical features, but also displayed diverse bioactivities such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and antidiabetic effects.

Through a comprehensive summary and classification of proposed biosynthetic pathways, we found an interesting rule that although the MPs skeletons are complex and diverse, they are produced in the plants by only three types of building blocks (phloroglucinols, β-triketones, and terpenes) via only a few biosynthetic key reactions. The above findings made a clear connection between MPs and their building blocks and biosynthetic reactions, with obvious regularity. The building blocks and biosynthetic reactions of MPs will provide inspiration for phytochemical, organic synthetic and biosynthetic scientists.

This database provides information about the structures, physical and chemical constants, biosynthetic precursors and reactions, and original plants of MPs, which will facilitate researches on natural phloroglucinols.