Plant-derived Natural Products: Synthesis, Function, and Application

Karin Springob, Toni M. Kutchan (auth.), Anne E. Osbourn, Virginia Lanzotti (eds.)0387854975, 978-0-387-85497-7, 978-0-387-85498-4

Plant-derived natural products: Synthesis, function and application

Plants produce a huge array of natural products (secondary metabolites). These compounds have important ecological functions, providing protection against attack by herbivores and microbes and serving as attractants for pollinators and seed-dispersing agents. They may also contribute to competition and invasiveness by suppressing the growth of neighbouring plant species (a phenomenon known as allelopathy). Humans exploit natural products as sources of drugs, flavouring agents, fragrances and for a wide range of other applications. Rapid progress has been made in recent years in understanding natural product synthesis, regulation and function and the evolution of metabolic diversity. It is timely to bring this information together with contemporary advances in chemistry, plant biology, ecology, agronomy and human health to provide a comprehensive guide to plant-derived natural products.

Plant-derived natural products: synthesis, function and application provides an informative and accessible overview of the different facets of the field, ranging from an introduction to the different classes of natural products through developments in natural product chemistry and biology to ecological interactions and the significance of plant-derived natural products for humans. In the final section of the book a series of chapters on new trends covers metabolic engineering, genome-wide approaches, the metabolic consequences of genetic modification, developments in traditional medicines and nutraceuticals, natural products as leads for drug discovery and novel non-food crops.

Professor Anne Osbourn is Head of the Department of Metabolic Biology at the John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK, where she runs a research programme on plant-derived natural products. Her research is focused on the synthesis and function of plant-derived natural products and on mechanisms underpinning metabolic diversification.

Professor Virginia Lanzotti is associate professor of organic chemistry at University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy and Meetings Secretary of the Phytochemical Society of Europe (PSE). Her research is focused on the stereostructure of natural products, drug discovery, food chemistry, and soil organic matter phytotoxicity. Winner of the 2003 PSE-Pierre Fabre award for excellence in phytochemistry.

Table of contents :
Front Matter….Pages i-xiv
Front Matter….Pages 1-1
Introduction to the Different Classes of Natural Products….Pages 3-50
Natural Products from Seaweeds….Pages 51-81
Use of Secondary Metabolite Variation in Crop Improvement….Pages 83-95
Approaches to the Analysis of Plant-Derived Natural Products….Pages 97-125
Opportunities and Challenges for Ethnobotany at the Start of the Twenty-First Century….Pages 127-140
Front Matter….Pages 142-142
Introduction to the Different Classes of Biosynthetic Enzymes….Pages 143-163
Methods for Molecular Identification of Biosynthetic Enzymes in Plants….Pages 165-179
Regulation of Secondary Metabolism by Jasmonate Hormones….Pages 181-194
Metabolite Channeling and Multi-enzyme Complexes….Pages 195-208
Glycosylation of Secondary Metabolites and Xenobiotics….Pages 209-228
Handling Dangerous Molecules: Transport and Compartmentation of Plant Natural Products….Pages 229-267
Participation of Phytochemicals in Plant Development and Growth….Pages 269-279
Front Matter….Pages 282-282
Biological Activity of Defence-Related Plant Secondary Metabolites….Pages 283-299
The Role of Natural Products in Plant-Microbe Interactions….Pages 301-320
Role of Natural Products in Nature: Plant-Insect Interactions….Pages 321-347
Oligosaccharide Signalling Molecules….Pages 349-359
Biological Activity of Allelochemicals….Pages 361-384
Health Benefits of Dietary Plant Natural Products….Pages 385-403
Floral Scents and Fruit Aromas Inspired by Nature….Pages 405-431
Front Matter….Pages 434-434
Bioengineering….Pages 435-473
Front Matter….Pages 434-434
Genome Wide Approaches in Natural Product Research….Pages 475-503
Metabolomics and the Detection of Unintended Effects in Genetically Modified Crops….Pages 505-531
Recent Advances in Traditional Medicines and Dietary Supplements….Pages 533-546
Plant-derived natural products as leads for drug discovery….Pages 547-567
Speciality Non-food Crops….Pages 569-583
Back Matter….Pages 585-597