Biochemical Targets of Plant Bioactive Compounds: A Pharmacological Reference Guide to Sites of Action and Biological Effects / Edition 1

by Gideon Polya

Overview

When introduced to the human body, bioactive metabolites produced by plants for self defense bind to particular biochemical targets, most notably to proteins involved in signaling by hormones and neurotransmitters. This, essentially, is the basis for the effects of herbal medicine. While herbal medicine preparations may act by complex synergistic interactions, molecular explanations of herbal medicine efficacy and side effects ultimately require definition of the biochemical targets of individual plant bioactive constituents.

Biochemical Targets of Plant Bioactive Compounds is a comprehensive and user-friendly reference guide to biochemical targets of plant defensive compounds. With 500 pages of tables, it presents a mine of succinctly summarized information relating to bioactive compound structures, plant sources, biochemical targets and physiological effects that can be readily accessed via chemical compound, plant genus, plant common name and subject indexes. With introductory chapters providing reviews of the structural diversity of plant defensive compounds and biochemistry, this book is an invaluable reference for biomedical professionals in the fields of alternative/complementary medicine, natural product chemistry, toxicology, pharmacology, and botany.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415308298
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	05/15/2003
Pages:	862
Product dimensions:	6.88(w) x 9.69(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Plant Defensive Compounds and Their Biochemical Targets. Biochemistry - The Chemistry of Life. Neurotransmitter and Hormone-gated Ion Channels. Ion Pumps and Ligand and Voltage-gated Ion Channels. Plasma Membrane G Protein-coupled Receptors. Neurotransmitter Transporters and Converters. Cyclic Nucleotide-, Ca2+ and Nitric Oxide-based Signaling. Signal-regulated Protein Kinases. Gene Expression, Cell Divisiona and Apoptosis. Taste and Smell Perception, Pheromones and Semiochemicals. Agonsists and Antagonists of Cystolic Hormone Receptors. Polynucleotides, Polysaccharides, Phospholipids and Membranes. Inhibitors of Digestion and Metabolism. Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Plant Compounds.

Editorial Reviews

"This book contains a wealth of data on the chemical structure, source, biochemical targets, and physiological effects of the bioactive compounds in plants."
- JACS, 2004

"Personally, I found this to be a valuable text for students, academics and researchers. I am pleased to have it in my library and am of the opinion that it should be on the shelves of all libraries of higher education and research institutes."
-JoHannes van Staden, South African Journal of Botany

From the Publisher

Reviewer: Stata Norton, PhD (University of Kansas Medical Center)
Description: Plants defend themselves by producing an array of chemicals intended to alter animal-plant interactions to the benefit of the plants. Some of these chemicals, for example digitalis from the foxglove or codeine from the opium poppy, have been in turn used by humans for their benefit. This book covers thousands of the diverse defensive compounds isolated to date from plants and the biochemical targets with which the compounds interact.
Purpose: The aim of the book is to condense the huge body of information on plant defensive compounds into one source to improve access to the biochemical pharmacology of those plant compounds which have been chemically characterized. These compounds are divided into tables based on the types of targets and, within each target class, the compounds are further separated into chemical categories. This is an ambitious undertaking and the book succeeds in meeting the intent of the author to produce a comprehensive summary of plant defensive compounds and their targets in animals.
Audience: The book is primarily addressed to research scientists seeking a review of compounds from plants for which the biochemical effects in humans have been identified. In addition, many health professionals will find the book of interest because it condenses the extensive information on these compounds in an accessible way. The author has the extensive experience in this field needed to achieve his objective.
Features: Most of the book consists of 12 tables of targets for plant defensive compounds and the tables are in turn divided by structural category into alkaloids, phenolics, terpenes and "other" compounds. The 12 targets are categorized as: ion channels, voltage-gated channels, G-protein-coupled receptors, neurotransmission, signal-regulation, protein kinases, cell division, taste and smell receptors, cytosolic hormone receptors, cell membrane receptors, metabolic inhibitors and tissue damage mediators. Each table is prefaced by a useful summary of the biochemistry of the target and the interactions with the plant compounds.An appendix showing the key parent compounds of each of the groups of plant compounds is a useful feature as are the indexes which are divided into a compound index by chemical name, a plant genus index, a plant common name index and a subject index.
Assessment: The author has compiled a summary of the compounds that plants produce which have pharmacologically useful actions or which have toxic effects in animals. This compilation is an important source of information. However, it should be noted that the book does not contain any references to the literature on any specific compound, plant, or target because of space constraints. The reader is referred to Web search engines or to Chemical Abstracts and Biological Abstracts for documentation. In addition, the author has provided a list of books and journals which are sources for the information in the book.

Doody's Review Service

3 Stars from Doody