secondary metabolites

plant bio

secondary metabolites, 3 types

alkaloids

terpenoids

phenolics

functions of secondary compounds

• protection- anti herbivory

• protection from reactive o2 stress

• ecological roles- govern interactions betw plants & other orgs

glycosides

occur in combo w/ 1 or more sugars

salicylic acid

identified from willow tree

antimalarials

quinine & artemisinin

malaria parasites, effective antimalarial drugs

artemisia/annua- produces artemisinin

cinchona tree bark- has quinine> kills plasmodium

taxol

powerful anti tumor drug

pacific yew tree

periwinkle

used to treat diabetes now too toxic

effective for cancer/lymphoma

alkaloids

have N2 as part of ring structure

derive from amino acids

monoterpenoid indole alkaloids- derived from strictosidine

benzylisoquinoline alkaloids- based on simple skeletal structure

alkaloid ex

peas, sunflower, poppy, tomato, citrus

caffeine

nicotine, morphine, cocaine

terpenoids

1. derived from isoprene units (c5h8)

2. often evaporate from plants & contribute to haze on sunny days

3. expensive to make

terpenoids ex

fox glove, eucalyptus, essential oils, pinene

linalool (lavender)

can be allergic to industrialized product , not natural plant

phenolics

fullly unsaturated 6 C ring linked to O2

phenolics ex

turmeric

salicylic acid- basic phenol

myristicin- complex phenol, nutmeg flavor

flavonoids- supplements vit c, rutin from buckwheat

anthocyanins- give flowers red/blue color

phenolic polymers

tanins- astringent to the taste, dryness to wines, pines, oaks

lignin- structural component to wood

monoterpene idol alkoids

medicinal properties

vinblastine- anticancer drug, 3 steps in biosynthetic pathway, crucial drug

pathway engineering

vanillin, artemisnic acid, dhurrin

naturaly decaf coffee made by RNAi mediated silencing

grapefruit

furanocoumarin- interferes w/ cytochrom p450

product of phenylpropanoid shikimate pathway