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Sesquiterpene Lactones
Sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) are a class of sesquiterpenoids that contain a lactone ring. They are most often found in plants of the family Asteraceae (daisies, asters). Other plant families with SLs are Umbelliferae (celery, parsley, carrots) and Magnoliaceae (magnolias). A collection of colorless, lipophilic solids, SLs are a rich source of drugs. They can be allergenic and toxic in grazing livestock causing severe neurological problems in horses. Some are also found in corals of the order '' Alcyonacea''. Types Sesquiterpene lactones can be divided into several main classes including germacranolides, heliangolides, guaianolides, pseudoguaianolides, hypocretenolides, and eudesmanolides. Examples Artemisinin, a new, highly-effective anti-malarial compound, is a sesquiterpene lactone found in '' Artemisia annua''. Lactucin, desoxylactucin, lactucopicrin, lactucin-15-oxalate, lactucopicrin-15-oxalate are some of the most prominent found in lettuce and spinach, givi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sesquiterpenoid
Sesquiterpenes are a class of terpenes that consist of three isoprene units and often have the molecular formula C15H24. Like monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes may be cyclic or contain rings, including many combinations. Biochemical modifications such as oxidation or rearrangement produce the related sesquiterpenoids. It is estimated (2006) that 3000 sesquiterpenes have been identified. Biosynthesis and examples The reaction of geranyl pyrophosphate with isopentenyl pyrophosphate results in the 15-carbon farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP), which is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of sesquiterpenes such as farnesene. Cyclic sesquiterpenes are more common than cyclic monoterpenes because of the increased chain length and additional double bond in the sesquiterpene precursors. In addition to common six-membered ring systems such as the ones found in zingiberene and bisacurone, cyclization of one end of the chain to the other end can lead to macrocyclic rings such as humulene. Lon ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lactucin
Lactucin is a bitter substance that forms a white crystalline solid and belongs to the group of sesquiterpene lactones. It is found in some varieties of lettuce and is an ingredient of lactucarium. It is also found in dandelion coffee. It has been shown to have analgesic and sedative A sedative or tranquilliser is a substance that induces sedation by reducing irritability or Psychomotor agitation, excitement. They are central nervous system (CNS) Depressant, depressants and interact with brain activity, causing its decelera ... properties, which are speculated to occur via modulation of the GABAA receptor, as well as antimalarial activity. See also * Lactucopicrin References Sesquiterpene lactones Primary alcohols Secondary alcohols Enones Azulenofurans Lactones Vinylidene compounds Diols {{ketone-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums ( ), sometimes called mums or chrysanths, are flowering plants in the Asteraceae family. They are native to East Asia and northeastern Europe. Most species originate from East Asia, and the center of diversity is in China. Countless horticultural varieties and cultivars exist. Description The genus ''Chrysanthemum'' are perennial herbaceous flowering plants, sometimes subshrubs. The leaves are alternate, divided into leaflets and may be pinnatisect, lobed, or serrate (toothed) but rarely entire; they are connected to stalks with hairy bases. The compound inflorescence is an array of several flower heads, or sometimes a solitary head. The head has a base covered in layers of phyllaries. The simple row of ray florets is white, yellow, or red. The disc florets are yellow. Pollen grains are approximately 34 microns. The fruit is a ribbed achene. [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chamomile
Chamomile (American English) or camomile (British English; see spelling differences) ( or ) is the common name for several plants of the family Asteraceae. Two of the species, '' Matricaria chamomilla'' and '' Chamaemelum nobile'', are commonly used to make herbal infusions for beverages. Chamomile is used as a flavoring in foods, beverages, and cosmetics, in herbal teas, in brewing beer, and as a ground cover or seating plant in gardens. There is no clinical evidence supporting the effectiveness of consuming chamomile to treat any diseases. Chamomile may interact adversely with various herbs and drugs, worsen pollen allergies, and is not recommended for people with hormone-sensitive conditions or when combined with anticoagulants. Because Roman chamomile may cause uterine contractions, it should not be used during pregnancy, and its safety during breastfeeding is unknown. Chamomile is highly susceptible to numerous fungi, Virus, viruses, and Insect, insects, w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Calea Ternifolia
''Calea ternifolia'' ( syn. ''Calea zacatechichi'') is a species of flowering plant in the aster family, Asteraceae. It is native to Mexico and Central America. Its English language common names include bitter-grass, Mexican calea, and dream herb.Simonienko, K., et al. (2013)Psychoactive plant species – actual list of plants prohibited in Poland. ''Psychiatria Polska'' XLVII(3), 499–508. It is used in traditional medicine and ritual in its native range.Ferraz, A., et al. (2009)Pharmacological and genotoxic evaluation of ''Calea clematidea'' and ''Calea uniflora''.''Latin American Journal of Pharmacy'' 28(6), 858-6/ref> Uses In Mexico the plant is used as a herbalism, herbal remedy for dysentery and fever. The Zoque Popoluca people call the plant ''tam huñi'' ("bitter gum") and use it to treat diarrhea and asthma, and the Mixe people know it as ''poop taam ujts'' ("white bitter herb") and use it for stomachache and fever. The Chontal people of Oaxaca reportedly use th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Burdock
''Arctium'' is a genus of biennial plants commonly known as burdock, family Asteraceae. Native to Europe and Asia, several species have been widely introduced worldwide. Burdock's clinging properties, in addition to providing an excellent mechanism for seed dispersal, led to the invention of the hook and loop fastener. Description Plants of the genus ''Arctium'' have dark green leaves that can grow up to long. They are generally large, coarse, and ovate, with the lower ones being heart-shaped. They are woolly underneath. The leafstalks are generally hollow. ''Arctium'' species generally flower from July through October. Burdock flowers provide essential pollen and nectar for honeybees around August, when clover is on the wane and before the goldenrod starts to bloom. Burdock's clinging properties make it an excellent mechanism for seed dispersal. Taxonomy A large number of species have been placed in genus ''Arctium'' at one time or another, but most of them are now class ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eupatorium
''Eupatorium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, containing from 36 to 60 species depending on the classification system. Most are Herbaceous plant, herbaceous perennial plant, perennials growing to tall. A few are shrubs. The genus is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Most are commonly called bonesets, thoroughworts or snakeroots in North America. The genus is named for Mithridates VI of Pontus, Mithridates Eupator, king of Kingdom of Pontus, Pontus. Systematics and taxonomy ''Eupatorium'' has at times been held to contain as many as 800 species, but many of these have been moved (at least by some authors) to other genera, including ''Ageratina'', ''Chromolaena'', ''Condylidium'', ''Conoclinium'', ''Critonia'', ''Cronquistianthus'', ''Eutrochium'', ''Fleischmannia'', ''Flyriella'', ''Hebeclinium'', ''Koanophyllon'', ''Mikania'', and ''Tamaulipa''. The classification of the tribe Eupatorieae, including species placed in ''Eupatorium' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Artichoke
The artichoke (''Cynara cardunculus'' var. ''scolymus''),Rottenberg, A., and D. Zohary, 1996: "The wild ancestry of the cultivated artichoke." Genet. Res. Crop Evol. 43, 53–58. also known by the other names: French artichoke, globe artichoke, and green artichoke in the United States, is a variety of a species of thistle cultivated as food. The edible portion of the plant consists of the flower buds before the flowers come into bloom. The budding artichoke flower-head is a cluster of many budding small flowers (an inflorescence), together with many bracts, on an edible base. Once the buds bloom, the structure changes to a coarse, barely edible form. Another variety of the same species is the cardoon, a perennial plant native to the Mediterranean region. Both wild forms and cultivated varieties (cultivars) exist. Description This vegetable grows to tall, with arching, deeply lobed, silvery, glaucous-green leaves long. The flowers develop in a large head from an edible bud ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vernolic Acid
Vernolic acid (leukotoxin B or isoleukotoxin) is a long chain fatty acid that is monounsaturated and contains an epoxide. It is a ''cis'' epoxide derived from the C12–C13 alkene of linoleic acid. Vernolic acid was first definitively characterized in 1954 and its absolute configuration determined in 1966. It is a major component in vernonia oil, which is produced in abundance by the genera '' Vernonia'' and ''Euphorbia'' and is a potentially useful biofeedstock. Occurrence Vernonia oil is extracted from the seeds of the '' Vernonia galamensis'' (ironweed), a plant native to eastern Africa. The seeds contain about 40 to 42% oil of which 73 to 80% is vernolic acid. The best varieties of ''V. anthelmintica'' contain about 30% less vernolic acid. Vernolic acid is not commonly found in plants in significant quantities, but some plants which do contain it are '' Vernonia'', '' Stokesia'', '' Crepis'' (from the daisy family), and '' Euphorbia lagascae'' and '' Bernardia pulchella ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spinach
Spinach (''Spinacia oleracea'') is a leafy green flowering plant native to Central Asia, Central and Western Asia. It is of the order Caryophyllales, family Amaranthaceae, subfamily Chenopodioideae. Its leaves are a common vegetable consumed either fresh or after storage, using Food preservation, preservation techniques by canning, Freezing (food), freezing, or Dehydrated food, dehydration. It may be eaten cooked or raw, and the taste differs considerably; the high oxalate content may be reduced by steaming. It is an annual plant (rarely biennial plant, biennial), growing as tall as . Spinach may Overwintering, overwinter in temperate regions. The leaf, leaves are alternate, simple, ovate to triangular, and very variable in size: long and broad, with larger leaves at the base of the plant and small leaves higher on the flowering stem. The flowers are inconspicuous, yellow-green, in diameter, and mature into a small, hard, dry, lumpy fruit cluster across containing several see ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lettuce
Lettuce (''Lactuca sativa'') is an annual plant of the family Asteraceae mostly grown as a leaf vegetable. The leaves are most often used raw in Green salad, green salads, although lettuce is also seen in other kinds of food, such as sandwiches, wraps and soups; it can also be grilled. Its stem and seeds are sometimes used; celtuce (asparagus lettuce) is one variety grown for its stems, which are eaten either raw or cooked. In addition to its main use as a leafy green, it has also gathered religious and medicinal significance over centuries of human consumption. Europe and North America originally dominated the market for lettuce, but by the late 20th century the consumption of lettuce had spread throughout the world. , world production of lettuce (and chicory) was 27 million tonnes, 53percent of which came from China. Lettuce was originally farmed by the ancient Egyptians, who transformed it from a plant whose seeds were used to obtain oil into an important food crop raised fo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
