Ouratea and the other genera of the Ochnaceae family are a rich source of flavonoids and biflavonoids. These can be used as chemotaxonomic markers of Ouratea. Some biflavonoids, as well as extracts of the Ouratea species show important biological activities, such as antitumour, antiviral, vasodilation, antimicrobial and DNA topoisomerase inhibition. On the other hand species of this genus are used in folk medicine for gastric distress, dysentery, and diarrhea; as an astringent, a tonic, and for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases. The information collected in this review attempts to summarise the phytochemical and biological activities studied in Ouratea species that may be helpful to guide researches, to undertake further investigation concerning the common properties of Ouratea species and evaluation as a source of active compounds.

A new triterpene, 1-epi-castanopsol, besides eleven known compounds: sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, lupeol, lupenone, simirane B, syringaresinol, scopoletin, isofraxidin, 6,7,8-trimethoxycoumarin and harman, were isolated from the wood of Simira glaziovii. The structures of the known compounds were defined by 1D, 2D ¹H, 13C NMR spectra data analyses and comparison with literature data. The detailed spectral data analyses allowed the definition of the structure of the new 1-epi isomer of castanopsol and performance of ¹H and 13C NMR chemical shift assignments.