Plant Secondary Metabolism

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-ix

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • David S. Seigler

   Pages 1-15

3. Fatty Acids

   • David S. Seigler

   Pages 16-41

4. Acetylenic Compounds

   • David S. Seigler

   Pages 42-50

5. Plant Waxes

   • David S. Seigler

   Pages 51-55

6. Polyketides

   • David S. Seigler

   Pages 56-75

7. Benzoquinones, Naphthoquinones, and Anthraquinones

   • David S. Seigler

   Pages 76-93

8. Shikimic Acid Pathway

   • David S. Seigler

   Pages 94-105

9. Phenylpropanoids

   • David S. Seigler

   Pages 106-129

10. Coumarins

    • David S. Seigler

    Pages 130-138

11. 2-Pyrones, Stilbenes, Dihydrophenanthrenes, and Xanthones

    • David S. Seigler

    Pages 139-150

12. Flavonoids

    • David S. Seigler

    Pages 151-192

13. Tannins

    • David S. Seigler

    Pages 193-214

14. Nonprotein Amino Acids

    • David S. Seigler

    Pages 215-233

15. Peptides

    • David S. Seigler

    Pages 234-246

16. Carbohydrates

    • David S. Seigler

    Pages 247-272

17. Cyanogenic Glycosides and Cyanolipids

    • David S. Seigler

    Pages 273-299

18. Glucosinolates

    • David S. Seigler

    Pages 300-311

19. Introduction to Terpenes

    • David S. Seigler

    Pages 312-323

20. Monoterpenes

    • David S. Seigler

    Pages 324-352

Life has evolved as a unified system; no organism exists similar role also has been suggested for fatty acids from alone, but each is in intimate contact with other organisms cyanolipids. Nonprotein amino acids, cyanogenic glyco­ and its environment. Historically, it was easier for workers sides, and the non-fatty-acid portion of cyanolipids also are in various disciplines to delimit artificially their respective incorporated into primary metabolites during germination. areas of research, rather than attempt to understand the entire Secondary metabolites of these structural types are accumu­ system of living organisms. This was a pragmatic and neces­ lated in large quantities in the seeds of several plant groups sary way to develop an understanding for the various parts. where they probably fulfill an additional function as deter­ We are now at a point, however, where we need to investi­ rents to general predation. gate those things common to the parts and, specifically, those The second type of relationship involves interaction of things that unify the parts. The fundamental aspects of many plants with other organisms and with their environment. Bio­ of these interactions are chemical in nature. Plants constitute logical interactions must be viewed in the light of evolution­ an essential part of all life systems; phytochemistry provides ary change and the coadaptation, or perhaps coevolution, of a medium for linking several fields of study.

• Alanin
• Amino acid
• Phenylalanin
• Terpene
• Tyrosin
• biochemistry
• botanics
• metabolism

`This masterly work is especially good on chemical ecology and medicinal phytochemistry and can be warmly recommended as a valuable reference source.' Phytochemistry, 53 (2000)
`In conclusion, David Seigler has produced an outstanding textbook on plant secondary metabolism which should have a place in the library of every botanist, pharmacist, phytochemist, ecologist and biochemist or anybody interested in the application and utilisation of secondary metabolites in ecology, agriculture, biotechnology or medicine.' Journal of Plant Physiology, 157 (2000)

• Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, USA

  David S. Seigler

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