Chemistry And Toxicology Of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids

Plants containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids are so numerous and widespread that they can be expected to be present in most environments. About 200 pyrrolizidine alkaloids have been isolated and identified from different plants. Interest in these alkaloids has increased in recent years due to their causative effects in the heavy loss of livestock in many countries. Naturally Occurring Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids discusses the plant sources and properties of pyrrolizidine alkaloids; extraction, fractionation and identification; various methods of spectrometry of pyrrolizidine alkaloids; quantitative determination; and the toxicity, carcinogenicity, pharmacology, and other biological activities of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Researchers in veterinary and human medicine will find this book to be a fascinating and useful reference tool.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids show only minor toxicity in their native state, but are metabolized in the human or animal organisms to carcinogenic, teratogenic and mutagenic compounds, with the precise structure of these compounds being responsible for the metabolic toxification process. Therefore, to be able to evaluate the toxic potential of each alkaloid, it is essential to exactly know the structure of the respective compound. X-ray structure analysis is the appropriate method both for elucidating the structure and for determining other parameters, such as the lengths of the bonds that influence the metabolic process. This book describes the incidence and the process of the intoxication as well as the possibilities to how the substances may reach the organism. In addition, the compounds elucidated by X-ray structure analysis to date are shown in their three-dimensional structure and structure-toxicity relationships are discussed.Pyrrolizidinalkaloide weisen in nativem Zustand nur geringe Toxizität auf, werden jedoch zu kanzerogenen, teratogenen und mutagenen Verbindungen metabolisiert, wenn sie in den menschlichen oder tierischen Organismus gelangen. Der Verlauf dieser Toxifizierung hängt von der konkreten Struktur dieser Stoffe und weiteren Parametern ab. Zur Bestimmung dieser Faktoren stellt die Röntgenstrukturanalyse die geeignete Methode dar. Im vorliegenden Buch werden das Vorkommen, der Ablauf der Toxifizierung und die Möglichkeiten, wie die Stoffe in den Organismus gelangen können, beschrieben. Es werden die bislang durch Röntgenstrukturanalyse vermessenen Verbindungen in ihrer 3D-Struktur aufgefÃ"hrt und Struktur-Toxizitätsbeziehungen diskutiert.

This monograph series provides unprecedented interdisciplinary coverage of research relating to the chemistry and biological properties of alkaloids - a class of biologically active compounds of more than 10,000 members. Timely, comprehensive and authoritative, the series features chapters on chemical properties and structure elucidation, synthesis, biosynthesis, taxonomy, spectroscopy, pharmacology, toxicology, and X-ray crystallography of alkaloids. The chapters are written and reviewed by eminent researchers, all of them acknowledged experts in the field. Subject and organism indexes are included for each volume.

This book presents refereed and edited papers from the 6th International Symposium on Poisonous Plants, held in Scotland in August 2001. It covers a range of topics from plant biochemistry to toxic effects in animals (particularly grazing farmed animals) and humans. The contents include the evolution of antinutrients and toxins in plants, biomedical applications of toxins in plants, isolation, identification and effects of plant and fungal toxins and the effect of plant toxins on aversion to plants in animal diets.

The publication of this volume marks the 40th anniversary of the Recent Advances in Phytochemistry series which has essentially documented a history of the origins of Phytochemistry. The 45th annual meeting of the Phytochemical Society of North America (PSNA) was held July 13-August 3, 2005 in La Jolla, California, USA. The meeting was hosted by the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. The theme of the meeting was – Integrative Plant Biochemistry as we Approach 2010. The focus was "to celebrate the past accomplishments of the PSNA and its focus, the growing importance of phytochemistry and plant biochemistry to the public, and to set a course for the future, by linking the past with the present and attracting a wider breath of scientists and disciplines to the society." Integrative Plant Biochemistry summarizes a number of important methodological approaches and innovative techniques that were discussed at the meeting: Biosynthesis and Regulation of Signaling Molecules Conservation and Divergence in Enzyme Function Translational Opportunities in Plant Biochemistry Temporal and Spatial Regulation of Metabolism Lipids, Fatty Acids and Related Molecules Metabolic Networks Each chapter in this volume concludes with a short summary and addresses the expected future directions of the work. The series marks the transition and progression of the dramatic integration of classical phytochemistry into molecular plant biology. Explores the growing importance of phytochemistry and biochemistry Discusses important methodological approaches and innovative techniques Representation from a unique interdisciplinary forum of scientists at the 45th Annual meeting of the Phytochemical Society of North America