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Iridoid
Iridoids are a type of monoterpenoids in the general form of cyclopentanopyran, found in a wide variety of plants and some animals. They are biosynthetically derived from 8-oxogeranial. Iridoids are typically found in plants as glycosides, most often bound to glucose. The chemical structure is exemplified by iridomyrmecin, a defensive chemical produced by the ant genus '' Iridomyrmex'', for which iridoids are named. Structurally, they are bicyclic ''cis''-fused cyclopentane-pyrans. Cleavage of a bond in the cyclopentane ring gives rise to a subclass known as ''secoiridoids'', such as oleuropein and amarogentin. Occurrence The iridoids produced by plants act primarily as a defense against herbivores or against infection by microorganisms. The variable checkerspot butterfly also contains iridoids obtained through its diet which act as a defense against avian predators. To humans and other mammals, iridoids are often characterized by a deterrent bitter taste. Aucubin and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aucubin
Aucubin is an iridoid glycoside. Iridoids are commonly found in plants and function as defensive compounds. Iridoids decrease the growth rates of many generalist herbivores. Natural occurrences Aucubin, as other Iridoid, iridoids, is found in asterids such as ''Aucuba japonica'' (Garryaceae), ''Eucommia ulmoides'' (Eucommiaceae), ''Plantago asiatica'', ''Plantago major'', ''Plantago lanceolata'' (Plantaginaceae), ''Galium aparine'' (Rubiaceae) and others. These plants are used in traditional Chinese and folk medicine. Agnuside is composed of aucubin and 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid, ''p''-hydroxybenzoic acid. Health effects Aucubin was found to protect against liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride or alpha-amanitin in mice and rats when 80 mg/kg was dosed intraperitoneally. Chemistry Aucubin is a monoterpenoid based compound. Aucubin, like all iridoids, has a cyclopentan-[C]-pyran skeleton. Iridoids can consist of ten, nine, or rarely eight carbons in which C11 is m ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Variable Checkerspot
The variable checkerspot or Chalcedon checkerspot (''Euphydryas chalcedona'') is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in western North America, where its range stretches from Alaska in the north to Baja California in the south and extends east through the Rocky Mountains into Colorado, Montana, New Mexico and Wyoming. The butterfly is usually brown or black with extensive white and yellow checkering and some red coloration on the dorsal wing. Adult wingspan is . Adult butterflies feed on nectar from flowers while larvae feed on a variety of plants including snowberry (''Symphoricarpos''), paintbrush (''Castilleja''), ''Buddleja'', ''Diplacus aurantiacus'' and ''Scrophularia californica''. During the breeding period, males congregate around larval host plants to encounter females. Males court female butterflies via physical displays.Rutowski, Ronald L., and George W. Gilchrist. "Courtship, Copulation and Oviposition in the Chalcedon Checkerspot,(Lepidoptera: Nymphalid ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Catalpol
Catalpol is an iridoid glucoside. This natural product falls in the class of iridoid glycosides, which are simply monoterpenes with a glucose molecule attached. Natural occurrence First isolated in 1962, catalpol was named for plants in the genus ''Catalpa'' in which it was discovered. Later in 1969, catalpol was found to be present in larger quantities in several plants in genus ''Rehmannia'' (Orobanchaceae). It is also found in plants belonging to several families, including, but not limited to, Scrophulariaceae, Lamiaceae (including scullcap), Plantaginaceae (''Plantago sp'') and Bignoniaceae, all of which being in the order Lamiales. Because they feed on these plants, variable checkerspot butterflies (''Euphydryas chalcedona'') contain high amounts of catalpol, which makes them unpalatable to predators and thus serves as a defense mechanism. Biosynthetic pathway Though first isolated in the 1960s, there has been very little investigation of the biosynthetic pathway o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Secologanin
Secologanin is a secoiridoid monoterpene synthesized from geranyl pyrophosphate in the mevalonate pathway. Secologanin then proceeds with dopamine or tryptamine to form ipecac and terpene indole alkaloids, respectively. Biosynthesis Secologanin biosynthesis begins from geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) taken from the mevalonate pathway used to make terpenoid The terpenoids, also known as isoprenoids, are a class of naturally occurring organic compound, organic chemicals derived from the 5-carbon compound isoprene and its derivatives called terpenes, diterpenes, etc. While sometimes used interchangeabl ...s. Recent efforts have characterized the entire secologanin biosynthetic pathway. Secologanin is formed from loganin through the action of the enzyme secologanin synthase. Secologanin is then able to proceed onto produce ipecac and terpene indole alkaloids. References {{Reflist Glucosides Methyl esters Aldehydes Vinyl compounds ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amarogentin
Amarogentin is a chemical compound found in gentian (''Gentiana lutea'') or in ''Swertia chirata''. Gentian root has a long history of use as a herbal bitter in the treatment of digestive disorders and is an ingredient of many proprietary medicines. The bitter principles of gentian root are secoiridoid glycosides amarogentin and gentiopicrin. The former is one of the most bitter (taste), bitter natural compounds known and is used as a scientific basis for measuring bitterness. In humans, it activates the bitter taste receptor TAS2R50. The biphenylcarboxylic acid moiety is biosynthesized by a polyketide-type pathway, with three units of acetyl-CoA and one unit of 3-Hydroxybenzoyl-CoA, 3-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA, this being formed from an early shikimate pathway intermediate and not via cinnamic or benzoic acid. It also shows an antileishmanial activity in animal models being an inhibitor of topoisomerase I. See also * Denatonium * TAS2R14 agonist 28.1 * Oligoporin D References {{ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rubiaceae
Rubiaceae () is a family (biology), family of flowering plants, commonly known as the coffee, madder, or bedstraw family. It consists of terrestrial trees, shrubs, lianas, or herbs that are recognizable by simple, opposite leaves with Petiole (botany), interpetiolar stipules and sympetalous actinomorphic flowers. The family contains about 14,100 species in about 580 genera, which makes it the fourth-largest angiosperm family. Rubiaceae has a cosmopolitan distribution; however, the largest species diversity is concentrated in the tropics and subtropics. Economically important genera include ''Coffea'', the source of coffee; ''Cinchona'', the source of the antimalarial alkaloid quinine; ornamental cultivars (''e.g.'', ''Gardenia'', ''Ixora'', ''Pentas''); and historically some dye plants (''e.g.'', ''Rubia''). Description The Rubiaceae are morphologically easily recognizable as a coherent group by a combination of characters: opposite or whorled leaves that are simple and entire, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Iridomyrmecin
Iridomyrmecin is a defensive chemical, classified as an iridoid Iridoids are a type of monoterpenoids in the general form of cyclopentanopyran, found in a wide variety of plants and some animals. They are biosynthetically derived from 8-oxogeranial. Iridoids are typically found in plants as glycosides, mo ..., isolated from ants of the genus '' Iridomyrmex''. It has also evolved into a sex pheromone in wasps such as '' Leptopilina'', with host species using the smell of iridomyrmecin as a way of detecting the presence of the parasitoid wasps. Iridomyrmecin is also found in a variety of plants including '' Actinidia polygama''. See also * Cat pheromone#Cat attractants for other chemicals that have behavioural effects on cats References Iridoids Lactones Cyclopentanes {{alkanederivative-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Oleuropein
Oleuropein is a glycosylation, glycosylated seco-iridoid, a type of polyphenol, phenolic bitter compound found in green olive skin, flesh, seeds, and leaves. The term oleuropein is derived from the botanical name of the olive tree, ''Olea europaea''. Because of its Taste#Bitterness, bitter taste and Astringent, astringency, oleuropein must be completely removed or decomposed to make olives edible. During processing of bitter and inedible green olives for consumption as table olives, oleuropein is removed from olives via a number of methods, including by immersion in lye. Chemical treatment Oleuropein is a derivative of elenolic acid linked to the orthodiphenol hydroxytyrosol by an ester bond and to a molecule of glucose by a glycosidic bond. When olives are immersed in a lye solution, the alkaline conditions lead to hydrolysis of the ester bond. The basic conditions also significantly increases the solubility of these derivatives, facilitating their release into the lye solution. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Glycoside
In chemistry, a glycoside is a molecule in which a sugar is bound to another functional group via a glycosidic bond. Glycosides play numerous important roles in living organisms. Many plants store chemicals in the form of inactive glycosides. These can be activated by enzymatic, enzyme hydrolysis, which causes the sugar part to be broken off, making the chemical available for use. Many such plant glycosides are used as medications. Several species of ''Heliconius'' butterfly are capable of incorporating these plant compounds as a form of chemical defense against predators. In animals and humans, poisons are often bound to sugar molecules as part of their elimination from the body. In formal terms, a glycoside is any molecule in which a sugar group is bonded through its anomeric carbon to another group via a glycosidic bond. Glycosides can be linked by an O- (an ''O-glycoside''), N- (a ''glycosylamine''), S-(a ''thioglycoside''), or C- (a ''C-glycoside'') glycosidic bond. Accord ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gentianaceae
Gentianaceae is a family of flowering plants of 105 genera and about 1600 species. Etymology The family takes its name from the genus ''Gentiana'', named after the Illyrian king Gentius. Distribution Distribution is cosmopolitan (species), cosmopolitan. Characteristics The family consists of trees, shrubs and herbs showing a wide range of colours and floral patterns. Flowers are actinomorphic and bisexual with fused sepals and petals. The stamens are attached to the inside of the petals (Stamens#Sexual reproduction in plants, epipetalous) and alternate with the corolla lobes. There is a glandular disk at the base of the gynoecium, and flowers have parietal placentation. The inflorescence is cymose, with simple or complex Cyme (botany), cymes. The fruits are dehiscent septicidal capsules splitting into two halves, rarely some species have a berry (botany), berry. Seeds are small with copiously oily endosperms and a straight embryo. The habit varies from small trees, pachycaul sh ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Iridomyrmecin
Iridomyrmecin is a defensive chemical, classified as an iridoid Iridoids are a type of monoterpenoids in the general form of cyclopentanopyran, found in a wide variety of plants and some animals. They are biosynthetically derived from 8-oxogeranial. Iridoids are typically found in plants as glycosides, mo ..., isolated from ants of the genus '' Iridomyrmex''. It has also evolved into a sex pheromone in wasps such as '' Leptopilina'', with host species using the smell of iridomyrmecin as a way of detecting the presence of the parasitoid wasps. Iridomyrmecin is also found in a variety of plants including '' Actinidia polygama''. See also * Cat pheromone#Cat attractants for other chemicals that have behavioural effects on cats References Iridoids Lactones Cyclopentanes {{alkanederivative-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
