Chemistry of Natural Products: Phytochemistry and Pharmacognosy of Medicinal Plants (De Gruyter Stem)

Plants produce secondary metabolites that humans harness for their own benefit. About half of drugs currently in clinical use are based on these chemicals found in nature. Chemistry of Natural Products covers secondary metabolites present in medicinal plants and their biosynthesis, biological activities, and isolation and separation techniques. This book is ideal for researchers in the areas of biochemistry, medicine, and pharmacology. Covers all aspects of medicinal plant research Explains biosynthetic pathways for chemists Special emphasis on future trends Discusses poisonous plants and their metabolites Cover Half Title Also of interest Chemistry of Natural Products: Phytochemistry and Pharmacognosy of Medicinal Plants Copyright About the editors Preface Contents List of contributors Part I: General 1. Medicinal plants as sources of novel therapeutics: the history, present, and future 1.1 Introduction 1.2 The use of medicinal plants: historical perspective 1.3 Ethnobotany in drug discovery: pros and cons 1.4 From plants to the pharmacy shelf: the drug development process 1.5 Conservation of medicinal plants 1.6 The future trends in the medicinal plant research 1.7 Conclusion References 2. Plant secondary metabolites as prospective pharmaceuticals and cosmeceuticals 2.1 Primary metabolites and secondary metabolites 2.2 Plant secondary metabolites as a source for pharmaceuticals 2.3 First generation of natural products–based pharmaceuticals 2.3.1 Anti-malaria drugs 2.3.2 Anti-cancer drugs Vinca alkaloids Taxanes Camptothecin Podophyllotoxins Combretastatins Homoharringtonine 2.3.3 Other drugs 2.4 Recent advances 2.5 Cosmetic ingredients and cosmeceuticals 2.5.1 Antioxidants 2.5.1.1 Plant-derived antioxidants used as cosmeceuticals 2.5.2 Anti-inflammatory agents 2.5.3 Skin lighteners 2.5.4 MMP inhibitors 2.5.5 Elastase inhibitors 2.5.6 Anti-angiogenics 2.5.7 Other compounds 2.6 Concluding remarks References Part II: Introduction to plant secondary metabolites 3. Plant phenolic compounds 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Biosynthesis of phenolic compounds 3.2.1 Biosynthesis of phenolic compounds via polyketide pathway 3.2.2 Biosynthesis of phenolic compounds via shikimic acid pathway 3.2.3 Biosynthesis of flavonoids via the combined pathway 3.3 Pharmacological importance of phenolic compounds 3.3.1 Cardioprotective effect 3.3.2 Anti-cancer effect 3.3.3 Anti-diabetic effect 3.3.4 Anti-neurodegenerative effect 3.3.5 Anti-aging effect 3.3.6 Effect on other human diseases 3.4 Conclusion References 4. Terpenes 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Classification of terpenes 4.2.1 Hemiterpenes (C5) 4.2.2 Monoterpenes (C10) 4.2.3 Sesquiterpenes (C15) 4.2.4 Diterpenes (C20) 4.2.5 Sesterpenes (C25) 4.2.6 Triterpenes (C30) 4.2.7 Tetraterpenes (C40) 4.2.8 Polyterpenes (C40>) 4.3 Conclusion References 5. Alkaloids 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Classification of alkaloids 5.2.1 Phenylalkylamine alkaloids 5.2.2 Pyridine, piperidine, and pyrrolizidine alkaloids 5.2.3 Quinoline alkaloids 5.2.4 Isoquinoline alkaloids 5.2.5 Indole alkaloids 5.2.6 Tropane alkaloids 5.2.7 Purine alkaloids 5.2.8 Steroidal alkaloids 5.3 Summary References 6. Saponins 6.1 Introduction 6.1.1 Glycone: sugar unit 6.1.2 Aglycone: Sapogenin units 6.2 Role of saponins on plants and microorganisms 6.3 Biosynthesis of saponins 6.4 Pharmacologically important saponins from plants 6.4.1 Hemolytic properties 6.4.2 Anticarcinogenic activities 6.4.3 Molluscicidal activity 6.4.4 Vaccine adjuvant and immunostimulant 6.4.5 Antiviral activity 6.4.6 Hypocholesterolaemic activity 6.4.7 Regulation of blood glucose concentration 6.4.8 Antifungal activity 6.5 Conclusion References Part III: Specific topics 7. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of spices and culinary herbs 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Spices with AChE inhibitory activity 7.3 Other culinary herbs with AChE inhibitory activity 7.4 Conclusion Abbreviations References 8. Photoprotective potential in medicinal plants 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Sunscreens 8.2.1 The safety concerns of currently available sunscreen products 8.3 Herbal materials as alternative photoprotective agents 8.4 Increasing the efficacy of herbal sunscreens 8.5 Conclusion References 9. Poisonous plants and their toxic metabolites 9.1 Introduction 9.2 The use of poisonous plants: some historical reports 9.3 Some common poisonous plants in the Indian subcontinent 9.3.1 Datura stramonium (thorn apple/jimson weed) 9.3.2 Tabernaemontana dichotoma (synonym: Pagiyantha dicotoma) 9.3.3 Strychnos nux vomica (nux vomica) 9.3.4 Cerbera manghas (sea mango) 9.3.5 Thevetia peruviana (yellow oleander) 9.3.6 Nerium oleander (oleander) 9.3.7 Gloriosa superba (flame lily, climbing lily) 9.3.8 Jatropha curcas (physic nut/purging nut/Barbados nut) 9.3.9 Ricinus communis (castor oil plant) 9.3.10 Jatropha multifida 9.3.11 Adenia palmata 9.3.12 Abrus precatorius (rosary pea) 9.3.13 Manihot esculenta (cassava/manioc) 9.3.14 Alocasia macrorrhiza (giant elephant’s ear) 9.3.15 Dieffenbachia amoena (dumb cane) 9.4 Impact of poisonous plants on companion animals and livestock industry 9.5 Conclusion References 10. Quality and safety of herbal medicinal products 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Contamination and adulteration of herbal medicinal products 10.2.1 Contaminants 10.2.2 Adulteration 10.3 Safety concerns on herbal medicines 10.4 Regulation of herbal medicine 10.5 Conclusion References 11. Advances in extraction and analysis of natural products 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Sample preparation methods 11.2.1 Pros and cons of innovative extraction methods 11.2.1.1 Maceration 11.2.1.2 Soxhlet extraction 11.2.1.3 Percolation 11.2.1.4 Reflux extraction 11.2.1.5 Microwave-assisted extraction 11.2.1.6 Ultra sonication–assisted extraction 11.2.1.7 Pressurized liquid extraction 11.2.1.8 Accelerated solvent extraction 11.2.1.9 Supercritical fluid extraction 11.2.1.10 Hydrodistillation 11.2.1.11 Enzyme-assisted extraction 11.3 Analytical techniques for natural products 11.3.1 Thin-layer chromatography 11.3.2 High-performance thin-layer chromatography 11.3.3 Counter-current chromatography 11.3.4 High-performance liquid chromatography 11.3.4.1 Liquid chromatography with ultraviolet-visible detection (HPLC-UV) 11.3.4.2 Liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection (HPLC-FLD) 11.3.4.3 Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) 11.3.4.4 HPLC coupled to an electrochemical detector 11.3.5 Mass spectrometry 11.3.6 Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy 11.3.7 Capillary electrophoresis 11.3.8 Gas chromatography 11.3.9 IR spectroscopy (IR) 11.4 Dereplication 11.5 Concluding remarks References Index Cover back