Santalales

Santalales is an order of flowering plants that includes many hemiparasitic species such as sandalwood and mistletoe, widely distributed across tropical and subtropical ecosystems. Members of this order are chemically notable for producing terpenoids, phenolic compounds, and unique lignan derivatives, many of which are involved in host–parasite interactions. In biomedical research, Santalales is important due to its diverse pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, immunomodulatory, and cardiovascular effects. Sandalwood oil, for example, contains sesquiterpenes with antimicrobial and calming properties, while mistletoe extracts have been widely studied in complementary cancer therapy. The parasitic lifestyle of many Santalales species also provides a unique model for studying metabolic adaptation and plant chemical ecology.