Secondary Plant Products

Approx.798 pages

It is impossible in a single volume to deal comprehensively with all classes of secondary plant compounds. In the earlier series of this Encyclopedia emphasis was laid on the isoprenoids and plant phenols. While these compounds have not been neglected in the present volume we have attempted to achieve a more balanced presentation by drawing attention to the importance of nitrogenous secondary metabolites such as the alkaloids, amines and non-protein amino acids. Most of the compounds or groups of compounds included in Volume 8 are of restricted distribution within the plant kingdom and wherever possible we have provided information concerning their chemistry, biochemistry, taxonomic signifi cance and probable ecological roles. Secondary compounds cannot be defined in terms of restricted distribution, however, nor can they be defined without refer ence to the plants in which they occur, as it is possible that a given compound occurring in two species may have a primary role in one and not in the other. As our knowledge of biochemistry increases we shall no doubt find it necessary to revise our ideas concerning the roles of a great many of the compounds which are found in plants.

Plant secondary metabolites have been a fertile area of chemical investigation for many years, driving the development of both analytical chemistry and of new synthetic reactions and methodologies. The subject is multi-disciplinary with chemists, biochemists and plant scientists all contributing to our current understanding. In recent years there has been an upsurge in interest from other disciplines, related to the realisation that secondary metabolites are dietary components that may have a considerable impact on human health, and to the development of gene technology that permits modulation of the contents of desirable and undesirable components. Plant Secondary Metabolites: Occurrence, Structure and Role in the Human Diet addresses this wider interest by covering the main groups of natural products from a chemical and biosynthetic perspective with illustrations of how genetic engineering can be applied to manipulate levels of secondary metabolites of economic value as well as those of potential importance in diet and health. These descriptive chapters are augmented by chapters showing where these products are found in the diet, how they are metabolised and reviewing the evidence for their beneficial bioactivity.

This manual is principally concerned with the small molecules produced by plants. It covers aspects of theirrole in plant ecology, their metabolism in the plant, their discovery, characterization and use and their significance in the diet.

Plant Secondary Metabolites provides reliable assays to meet the challenge of fulfilling the huge demand for feed. It details plant-animal interactions and presents methodologies that may also be used to determine plant secondary metabolites in human food. In addition, the volume contains methods for analysis of some important plant secondary metabolites, which are written in a recipe-like format designed for direct practical use.

"The book is designed for use by advanced students, researchers and professionals in plant biochemistry, physiology, molecular biology, genetics, pharmacology, medicine, pharmacy and agriculture working in the academic and industrial sectors, including the pesticide and pharmaceutical industries."--Jacket.

It is impossible in a single volume to deal comprehensively with all classes of secondary plant compounds. In the earlier series of this Encyclopedia emphasis was laid on the isoprenoids and plant phenols. While these compounds have not been neglected in the present volume we have attempted to achieve a more balanced presentation by drawing attention to the importance of nitrogenous secondary metabolites such as the alkaloids, amines and non-protein amino acids. Most of the compounds or groups of compounds included in Volume 8 are of restricted distribution within the plant kingdom and wherever possible we have provided information concerning their chemistry, biochemistry, taxonomic signifi cance and probable ecological roles. Secondary compounds cannot be defined in terms of restricted distribution, however, nor can they be defined without refer ence to the plants in which they occur, as it is possible that a given compound occurring in two species may have a primary role in one and not in the other. As our knowledge of biochemistry increases we shall no doubt find it necessary to revise our ideas concerning the roles of a great many of the compounds which are found in plants.

Provides a state-of-the-art review of recent conceptual developments concerning the roles of plant secondary metabolites in the natural environment.