Alkaloids: Biochemistry, Ecology, and Medicinal Applications / Edition 1

by Margaret F. Roberts

Overview

Not since the late 1970s has a single work presented the biology of this heterogenous group of secondary alkaloids in such depth. Alkaloids, a unique treatise featuring leaders in the field, presents both the historical use of alkaloids and the latest discoveries in

• the biochemistry of alkaloid production in plants
• alkaloid ecology, including marine invertebrates, animal and plant parasites, and
• alkaloids as antimicrobial and current medicinal use
. Highlights include chapters on the chemical ecology of alkaloids in host-predator interactions, and on the compartmentation of alkaloids synthesis, transport, and storage. Extensive cross-referencing in tabular format makes this volume an excellent reference.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781441932631
Publisher:	Springer US
Publication date:	09/17/2011
Edition description:	Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1998
Pages:	482
Product dimensions:	7.01(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.04(d)

Table of Contents

1 Introduction.- 2 A Short History of Alkaloids.- 3 Alkaloids in Arrow Poisons.- 4 Chemical Taxonomy of Alkaloids.- 5 Enzymology of Alkaloid Biosynthesis.- 6 Genes in Alkaloid Metabolism.- 7 Production of Alkaloids in Plant Cell Culture.- 8 The Biosynthesis of Alkaloids in Root Cultures.- 9 Induction of Alkaloid Biosynthesis and Accumulation in Plants and in Vitro Cultures in Response to Elicitation.- 10 Compartmentation of Alkaloid Synthesis, Transport, and Storage.- 11 Chemical Ecology of Alkaloids.- 12 Modes of Action of Alkaloids.- 13 Plant Parasites.- 14 Allelopathy in Plants.- 15 Alkaloids in Animals.- 16 Ecological Significance of Alkaloids from Marine Invertebrates.- 17 Antimicrobially Active Alkaloids.- 18 Utilization of Alkaloids in Modern Medicine.- Subject Index Including Orders, Families, and Common Names.- Index of Alkaloids, Amines, and Other Molecules.- Organism Index.

Editorial Reviews

Following an introduction to some of the historical uses of alkaloids (arranged by Family), three sections consider the biochemistry of alkaloid production in plants; ecology, including marine invertebrates, animals, and plant parasites; and alkaloids as antimicrobials, with a review of current medicinal use. Contributions provide insight into questions regarding the enormous amount of vital resources that plants expend on the biosynthesis of alkaloids; how they produce alkaloids and the mechanisms of regulation of biosynthesis; and how plants store these substances which can occur at levels toxic to the producing cell itself. Intended for use by advanced students and professional workers in the agricultural, biological, and pharmaceutical sciences, natural products chemistry, biochemistry, and botany. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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