Bioactive Molecules and Medicinal Plants Book

Drug Discovery from Plants   A.A. Salim   Y.-W. Chin   A.D. Kinghorn
The Role of Plants in Human History     1
The Role of Plant-Derived Compounds in Drug Development     4
Plant Secondary Metabolites as Drug Precursors     4
Plant Secondary Metabolites as Drug Prototypes     6
Plant Secondary Metabolites as Pharmacological Probes     8
Recent Developments in Drug Discovery from Plants     9
New Plant-Derived Drugs Launched Since 2001     9
Examples of Plant-Derived Compounds Currently Involved in Clinical Trials     11
Plant Extracts Currently Involved in Clinical Trials     15
Recent Trends and Future Directions     18
Grapevine Stilbenes and Their Biological Effects   P. Waffo-Teguo   S. Krisa   T. Richard   J.-M. Merillon
Introduction     25
Epidemiology     26
Chemistry of Stilbenes     27
Characterisation     27
Monomers     27
Oligomers     29
Biosynthetic Pathway     32
Distribution in Vitis vinifera     33
Determination of Stilbenes in Wine     33
Biological and Pharmacological Activities     35
Bioavailability andMetabolism     35
Cardiovascular Protection     39
Antioxidant Activity     39
Antithrombotic and Vasoprotective Properties     41
Biological Activities after Ingestion of Polyphenols or Wine     42
Cancer Chemoprevention     43
Neurodegenerative Diseases     46
Conclusion     49
Research into Isoflavonoid Phyto-oestrogens in Plant Cell Cultures   M.T. Luczkiewicz
Introduction     56
The Influence of the Basic Experimental Media on the Biosynthesis of Isoflavones in In Vitro Cultures     57
The Influence of Physical Factors on the Biosynthesis and Accumulation of Isoflavonoids in In Vitro Cultures     59
The Effect of Technological Procedures on the Biosynthesis and Accumulation of Isoflavonoids in In Vitro Cultures     60
Elicitation     61
Supplementation with Biosynthesis Precursors     70
Biotransformation     71
Genetic Modifications     73
In Vitro Cultures of Legume Plants Oriented for Selective Production of Phyto-oestrogens     77
Secondary Metabolite Production from Plant Cell Cultures: the Success Stories of Rosmarinic Acid and Taxol   S. Kintzios
Introduction: Cell Factories at the Cross Point     86
Rosmarinic Acid      87
General Information     87
Historical Development of In Vitro RA Production - a Brief Overview     87
Stimulation of Biosynthetic Pathways Leads to Enhanced RA Accumulation In Vitro     88
Is RA Biosynthesis Growth Dependent?     89
Is RA Accumulation Related to Culture Differentiation?     90
Recent Attempts to Scale Up RA Production     91
RA Production in Immobilized Cell Cultures     92
Taxol     92
General Information     92
Historical Development of In Vitro Taxol Production - a Brief Overview     93
Stimulation of Biosynthetic Pathways Leads to Enhanced Taxol Accumulation In Vitro     94
Is Taxol Biosynthesis Growth and Differentiation Dependent?     96
Recent Attempts to Scale Up Taxol Production     97
Taxol Production in Immobilized Cell Cultures     97
Conclusions     98
Guggulsterone: a Potent Natural Hypolipidemic Agent from Commiphora wightii - Problems, Perseverance, and Prospects   K. G. Ramawat   M. Mathur   S. Dass   S. Suthar
Introduction     102
Distribution     102
Biology     102
Gum-Resin Production     103
Chemistry     104
Methods of Analysis      104
Thin-Layer Chromatography     104
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography     109
Traditional Therapeutic Uses     109
Pharmacology     110
Animal and Clinical Trials     110
Mechanism of Action     111
Other Potential Activities     112
Toxicity     113
Biotechnological Approaches     113
Micropropagation     113
Somatic Embryogenesis     114
Resin Canal Formation     115
Guggulsterone Production     115
Future Prospects     119
Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn: the Source of Silymarin   P. Corchete
Introduction     124
Botany     125
Chemical Composition of S. marianum Fruits     126
Pharmacology of Silymarin     130
Mechanisms of Action     131
Antioxidant Activity     131
Effects on Hepatocyte Membranes and Cellular Permeability     131
Effects on Receptor Binding of Toxins and Drugs     131
Stimulation of Protein Synthesis     132
Inhibition of Cell Proliferation in Hepatic Fibrosis     132
Anti-inflammatory Activity     132
Pharmacological Applications      132
Hepatoprotective Action     132
Hypocholesterolemic Action     134
Chemopreventive and Anticarcinogenic Effects     134
Anti-inflammatory Action     136
Other Actions     137
Bioavailability     138
Toxicology     139
Therapeutics     139
Biotechnology     140
The Production of Dianthrones and Phloroglucinol Derivatives in St. John's Wort   A. Kirakosyan   D.M. Gibson   P.B. Kaufman
Introduction     149
Dianthrone and Phloroglucinol Derivatives Family of Compounds in Hypericum perforatum     150
Botany of Hypericum     152
Medicinal Uses of Hypericin and Hyperforin     152
Biotechnology for the Production of Hypericin and Hyperforin     154
Biosynthesis of Hypericin and Hyperforin in Mature Plants     154
Plant Cell Biotechnology     156
Influences on Hypericin and Hyperforin Productivity by Other Factors     159
New Directions for Hypericin and Hyperforin Production     161
Conclusions     162
Production of Alkaloids in Plant Cell and Tissue Cultures   D. Laurain-Mattar
Introduction     165
Correlation Between Organogenesis, Somatic Embryogenesis and Isoquinoline Alkaloid Accumulation     168
Hairy Roots and Tropane and Morphinan Alkaloid Accumulation     170
Conclusion and Perspective     171
Bacopa monnieri, a Nootropic Drug   M. Rajani
Introduction     175
Chemical Constituents     176
Analysis of Saponins of B. monnieri     184
Pharmacological Studies     184
Clinical Studies     188
Concluding Remarks     189
Biotechnology and Tissue Culture Studies on B. monniera     190
Chemical Profiling of Nothapodytes nimmoniana for Camptothecin, an Important Anticancer Alkaloid: Towards the Development of a Sustainable Production System   R. Uma Shaanker   B.T. Ramesha   G. Ravikanth   R.P. Gunaga   R. Vasudeva   K.N. Ganeshaiah
Introduction     198
N. nimmoniana: Ecology and Distribution     201
Basic Patterns of Accumulation of CPT in N. nimmoniana     203
Chemical Profiling of Populations of N. nimmoniana for CPT     204
Modeling Habitat Suitability for CPT Production     207
Development of a Sustainable Extraction Approach     209
Conclusions     210
Colchicine - an Overview for Plant Biotechnologists   S. Ghosh   S. Jha
Introduction      216
The Alkaloid Colchicine     218
Toxicity of Colchicine     218
Biological Effects of Colchicine     219
Colchicine as a Medicine     222
Botanical Use of Colchicine     222
Chemistry of Colchicine     223
Occurrence     225
Biotechnological Approaches for the Production of Colchicine     225
Conclusion     228
In Vitro Azadirachtin Production   S. Srivastava   A.K. Srivastava
Introduction     234
Chemistry of Azadirachtin     236
Mode of Action of Azadirachtin     237
Biosynthetic Pathway for Azadirachtin     238
Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Azadirachtin     238
Availability of Azadirachtin     242
Plant Cell/Tissue Culture: an Alternative for Azadirachtin Production     243
Azadirachtin Production from Plant Cell/Tissue Cultures of Azadirachta indica     243
Yield Improvement Strategies     244
Strain Improvement and Selection     245
Media Compositions and Culture Conditions     245
Application of Elicitors, Precursors and Permeabilising Agents     246
Genetic Engineering Approach     247
Somatic Embryogenesis and Regeneration     248
Two-Phase (Stage) Systems     248
Immobilisation     248
Stability of Azadirachtin     249
Scale-up of In Vitro Azadirachtin Production     249
Conclusion     250
Arabinogalactan Protein and Arabinogalactan: Biomolecules with Biotechnological and Therapeutic Potential   A. Pal
Introduction     256
Biological Activities of AGP     259
Role of AGPs in Reproductive Organ Development     261
Signaling Role of AGP     262
Abiotic Stress Tolerance Conferred by AGP     263
Probable Role in PCD     263
Commercial Uses of Gum Arabic     264
AG as Dietary Fiber and Prebiotics     264
AG as Immunomodulators and Immunity Enhancers     265
Echinacea-AG as a Nutraceutical     266
Other Uses of AG     266
Scope of Exploiting the Potentials of AGP and AG in Plant Biotechnology and Therapeutics     267
Concluding Remarks     267
Hairy Roots: a Powerful Tool for Plant Biotechnological Advances   S. Guillon   J. Tremouillaux-Guiller   P.K. Pati   P. Gantet
Introduction     272
Hairy Roots Are on the Way to towards an Experimental Model      272
Improvement in the Productivity of Hairy Roots: Biotic and Abiotic Treatments or Metabolite Trapping     275
Potential Discovery of Metabolic Genes from Transcriptome Analysis of T-DNA Activation Tagging or Elicited Hairy Roots     277
RNA Silencing via Hairy Root: a Powerful Tool for Loss-of-Function Analyses of Genes     277
Metabolic Engineering of the Hairy Root System     278
Hairy Roots: A Novel System for Molecular Farming     279
Phytoremediation Process for Cleaning up the Environment and More Knowledge on Root Adsorption     279
Scale up and Technological Integration into Industry     280
Perspectives     281
Hairy Roots of Catharanthus roseus: Efficient Routes to Monomeric Indole Alkaloid Production   S. Guillon   P. Gantet   M. Thiersault   M. Rideau   J. Tremouillaux-Guiller
Introduction     286
Materials and Methods     286
Bacterial Strain     286
Plant Material     287
Hairy Root Induction     287
Liquid Hairy Root Culture     287
Methyl Jasmonate Treatment     287
Alkaloid Identification by Ceric Ammonium Sulphate Reagent     288
Serpentine and Ajmalicine Content Determination by Spectrofluorometry     288
Catharanthine Content Determination by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Analysis     288
Statistical Analysis     289
Results and Discussion     289
Genetic Transformation of Catharanthus Leaves     289
Alkaloid Profiles     291
Alkaloid Contents     292
Conclusion     294
Roseroot (Rhodiola rosea L.): Effect of Internal and External Factors on Accumulation of Biologically Active Compounds   Z. Weglarz   J.L. Przybyl   A. Geszprych
Introduction     298
Plant Characteristics     298
Intraspecific Variability     300
Distribution of Phenolic Compounds in Rhizomes and Roots     300
Quality of Raw Material of Different Origin     303
Individual Variation     304
Accumulation of Biomass and Biologically Active Compounds in the Underground Organs of Roseroot During Plant Development     305
Effect of Ecological Factors on the Accumulation of Biomass and Biologically Active Compounds in the Underground Organs of Roseroot     308
Effect of Post-harvest Treatment on the Quality of Raw Material and Extracts     310
Apoptosis and Plant-Derived Pharmaceuticals   L.F. Brisson
Introduction     317
Molecular Regulation of Apoptosis     317
Plant Antitumoral Substances     318
Plant Substances     318
Chemotherapeutic Drugs     319
Taxanes     319
Vinca Alkaloids     320
Chemopreventive Agents: Catechin and its Derivatives     321
Conclusion     322
The Indian Herbal Drugs Scenario in Global Perspectives   K.G. Ramawat   S. Goyal
Introduction     325
Indian System of Medicine     328
World-Wide Use of Medicinal Aromatic Plants     336
Supply and Demand of Medicinal Plants     337
Medicinal Plant Biodiversity     338
Traditional Medicine in Healthcare     340
Indian Pharmaceutical Industries     341
Quality of Herbal Drugs     342
Concluding Remarks     343
Phytochemical Standardization of Herbal Drugs and Polyherbal Formulations   M. Rajani   N.S. Kanaki
Introduction     349
Herbal drugs     349
Trade Scenario     350
Bottlenecks and Steps to be Taken     350
Strategy     351
Status of Herbal Drugs in Pharmacopoeias     351
Official     352
Others     352
Phytochemical Standardization     352
Sample Preparation     353
Preliminary Screening for Chemical Groups and Quantification of Chemical Groups     354
Phytochemical Profiles - Fingerprinting     354
Multiple Marker-Based Fingerprinting     355
Marker Compound Analysis     357
Marker Compounds     357
Quantification of Marker Compounds     357
Multiple Marker-Based Evaluation     358
Polyherbal Formulations     359
Hyphenated Techniques     361
Reference Compounds     364
Some Examples     364
Raw Material     364
Ammoniacum Gum     364
Cinchona officinalis Stem Bark     365
Formulation     366
Chandraprabhavati     366
Conclusion     366
Subject Index     371