This review deals with recent isolation of natural xanthones and with  biological and pharmacological activities  of these products.  262  Xanthones including 117  new natural products are described. Cancer related effects, antioxidant action, radical scavenging  properties, effects on blood sugar and blood triglycerides, enzyme inhibition, immunological effects together with antimicrobial, antiviral, hepatoprotective and antimalarial activities are described.