Isolation And Structure Elucidation Of Bioactive Compounds Dedicated To The Memory Of The Late Professor Charles D Hufford

We are very pleased to introduce the Book Version of our Special Issue in Molecules dedicated to the memory of the late Professor Dr. Charles D. Hufford. The issue has been a huge success, with 22 full-length peer-reviewed papers and a tribute by Professor Alice M.Clark. Authors, reviewers, and collaborators from many countries across the worldhave contributed to this endeavour, and we are truly grateful to all. This Special Issue isrepresentative of the broad impact that “Charlie” had on the field of bioactive naturalproducts. This Special Issue comprises papers from Professor Hufford’s former students,colleagues, and collaborators throughout the world who have utilized a wide array ofstate-of-the-art techniques to examine diverse natural sources to isolate and identify avariety of natural products with a wide spectrum of biological activities, including somenew microbial transformations and insights into bioactive molecules. Many new bioactive compounds are described and reported here for the first time. Bioactivities reportedinclude cytotoxicity, antimicrobial activity, anti-inflammatory activity, antileishmanialactivity, antitrypanosomal activity, antimalarial activity, analgesic activity, and beneficialliver activities, just to name a few. This Special Issue will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the field of bioactive natural products, as exemplified by the career of Dr. Hufford. Lastly, without the timely and outstanding contributions from all of you, this Special Issue would not have been possible. We thank you all very much for your contributions and your time devoted to this Special Issue in memory of a special person. Finally, we express ourgratitude and thanks to the journal Molecules and their excellent team of expert reviewers for giving us the support and opportunity to make this Special Issue a huge success!

Microbial organisms often produce biologically active and chemically intriguing secondary metabolites. To isolate and characterize compounds of novel activity and structure, bioassay- guided fractionations were employed on a variety of natural products sources. Active compounds were characterized by spectroscopic analysis and X-ray diffraction methods. As a result of these studies, six projects were completed, resulting in the purification of a diverse range of compounds containing activity in a variety of assays. A coumarin and parahydroxyphenylethanol were determined to possess phytotoxic activity from fungal pathogens. Two novel C-glycosidic compounds from a bacterial plant pathogen were found to be the first low molecular weight elicitors of the hypersensitive response in plants. A verticillin of the epi-polythiodiketopiperazine class isolated from a soil fungus was discovered to be responsible for inhibition of ras farnesylation transferase. Leafcutter ants were found to be deterred by the presence of a novel sesqualterpenoid in epiphylls. Finally, inhibitors of the PDGF receptor were isolated and characterized from a lichen.

Current discoveries and research into bioactive natural products Medicinal Chemistry of Bioactive Natural Products provides a much-needed survey of bioactive natural products and their applications in medicinal chemistry. This comprehensive reference features articles by some of the world's leading scientists in the field on discovery, structure elucidation, and elegant synthetic strategies--developed for natural products--with an emphasis on the structure activity relationship of bioactive natural products. The topics have been carefully chosen on the basis of relevance to current research and to importance as clinicially useful agents. Rather than attempting to be a comprehensive encyclopedia of bioactive natural products, Medicinal Chemistry of Bioactive Natural Products guides the reader to the key developments in the field. By providing not only practical detail but a historical perspective on the chemistry and biology of the compounds under consideration, the book serves as a handy resource for researchers in their own work developing pharmaceuticals, and as an inspiring introduction for young scientists to the dynamic field of bioactive natural products research. Enhanced by examples with updated research results, the discussion covers such topics as: * The chemistry and biology of epothilones * Vancomycin and other glycopeptide antibiotic derivates * Antitumor and other related activities of Taxol and its analogs * The antimalarial properties of the traditional Chinese medicine, Quinghaosu (artemisinin) * Huperzine A: A natural drug for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease * The medicinal chemistry of ginkgolides from Ginkgo biloba * Recent progress in Calophyllum coumarins as potent anti-HIV agents * Plant-derived anti-HIV agents and analogs * Chemical synthesis of annonaceous acetogenins and their structurally modified mimics

Alkaloids, represent a group of interesting and complex chemical compounds, produced by the secondary metabolism of living organisms in different biotopes. They are relatively common chemicals in all kingdoms of living organisms in all environments. Two hundred years of scientific research has still not fully explained the connections between alkaloids and life. Alkaloids-Chemistry, Biological Significance, Applications and Ecological Role provides knowledge on structural typology, biosynthesis and metabolism in relation to recent research work on alkaloids. Considering an organic chemistry approach to alkaloids using biological and ecological explanation. Within the book several questions that persist in this field of research are approached as are some unresearched areas. The book provides beneficial text for an academic and professional audience and serves as a source of knowledge for anyone who is interested in the fascinating subject of alkaloids. Each chapter features an abstract. Appendices are included, as are a listing of alkaloids, plants containing alkaloids and some basic protocols of alkaloid analysis. * Presents the ecological role of alkaloids in nature and ecosystems * Interdisciplinary and reader friendly approach * Up-to-date knowledge

​The field of plant breeding has grown rapidly in the last decade with breakthrough research in genetics and genomics, inbred development, population improvement, hybrids, clones, self-pollinated crops, polyploidy, transgenic breeding and more. This book discusses the latest developments in all these areas but explores the next generation of needs and discoveries including omics beyond genomics, cultivar seeds and intellectual and property rights. This book is a leading-edge publication of the latest results and forecasts important areas of future needs and applications.​

Learn the facts behind the pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of controversial cannabis therapeutics The Handbook of Cannabis Therapeutics: From Bench to Bedside sets aside the condemnation and hysteria of society’s view of cannabis to concentrate on the medically sound aspects of cannabis therapeutics. The world’s foremost experts provide a reasoned, thoroughly researched overview of the controversial subject of cannabis, from its history as a medicine through its latest therapeutic uses. The latest studies on the botany, history, biochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, clinical use for various illnesses such as AIDS, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis, and side effects of marijuana are all examined and discussed in depth. This comprehensive resource is a compendium of articles from the Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics—with additional contemporary commentary. It presents startling research that explores and supports the medicinal value of cannabis use and its derivatives as a valid therapeutic resource for pain and inflammation, for several illnesses less responsive to other therapies, and even for certain veterinary uses. Cannabinoids such as nabilone, THC, levonantradol, ajulemic acid, dexanabinal, and others are extensively described, with a review of new indications for cannabinoid pharmaceuticals. The book is carefully referenced to encourage your examination of previous studies and provides tables and figures to enhance understanding of information. The Handbook of Cannabis Therapeutics discusses: the uses of cannabis in Arabic, Greek, Roman, and early English medicines absorption rates pharmacokinetics pharmacodynamics separate extracts versus the use of cannabis in its entirety the therapeutic value of the endocannabinoid system cannabinoids and newborn feeding a comparison of smoking versus oral preparations clinical research data on eating cannabis therapeutic uses as appetite stimulant treatments in obstetrics and gynecology medicinal treatments used in Jamaica the use of cannabis in the treatment of multiple sclerosis the benefits versus the adverse side effects of cannabis use The Handbook of Cannabis Therapeutics is a reference work certain to become crucial to physicians, psychologists, researchers, biochemists, graduate students, and interested members of the public.

Plants have been the sources of important pharmaceuticals, flavoring agents, and agrochemicals. The antimalarial drugs artemisinin and quinine; the anticancer drugs taxol, etoposide, and vinca alkaloids; the sugar-free sweetening agents stevioside and rebaudiosides; and antifeedant azadiractin are good examples of important plant-based drugs, food additives, and agrochemicals currently on the market. Despite these and many other successes, there are significant challenges to discovering and developing commercially important natural products from plants, such as procuring plant materials in large quantities, separating active constituents from complex mixtures, and undesirable qualities, such as low solubility or poor chemical or metabolic stability of active constituents. Dr. James D. McChesney has contributed immensely to overcoming the inherent challenges associated with discovering and developing products modeled from plant-based natural product leads. His research on artemisinin, taxol, galanthamine, podophyllotoxin, and stevia sweet glycosides exemplifies the magnitude of these contributions. His extensive work on the structural modification of taxol led to the discovery and development of the anticancer agent TPI 287, a third-generation taxane analog that is currently undergoing clinical trials. Dr. McChesney has had a long, distinguished teaching and research career, has authored more than 225 research publications, and holds more than 60 patents. He is a past president and Fellow of the American Society of Pharmacognosy and a Fellow of the AAAS. He has mentored many graduate students, post-docs, and junior faculty members who hold prominent positions in natural products research establishments in the US and worldwide. We wish to dedicate this Special Issue Book Version to celebrate the eightieth birthday of Dr. McChesney, a prolific thinker with abundant inventiveness in the field of natural product chemistry and pharmacognosy.

With one volume published each year, this series keeps scientists and students current with the latest developments and results in all areas of the plant sciences. This present volume includes insightful reviews covering genetics, cell biology, physiology, comparative morphology, systematics, ecology, and vegetation science.