Flavonoids are secondary plant products that have previously been shown to be helpful in determining relationships among plant groups. This work presents comprehensively the occurrence, patterns of variation, and systematic and evolutionary importance of flavonoids in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), the largest family of flowering plants (23,000 species). It gathers together the more than 2500 reports of flavonoids in Asteraceae published between 1950 to the present and interprets these data in context of new taxonomic (especially generic) alignments. The authors discuss flavonoid patterns with reference to modern phylogenetic studies based on morphology and DNA data. This book provides, therefore, the most exhaustive synthesis and evaluation of the systematic and evolutionary import of flavonoids ever accomplished for any large family of angiosperms.

Flavonoids are secondary plant products that have previously been shown to be helpful in determining relationships among plant groups. This work presents comprehensively the occurrence, patterns of variation, and systematic and evolutionary importance of flavonoids in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), the largest family of flowering plants (23,000 species). It gathers together the more than 2500 reports of flavonoids in Asteraceae published between 1950 to the present and interprets these data in context of new taxonomic (especially generic) alignments. The authors discuss flavonoid patterns with reference to modern phylogenetic studies based on morphology and DNA data. This book provides, therefore, the most exhaustive synthesis and evaluation of the systematic and evolutionary import of flavonoids ever accomplished for any large family of angiosperms.

The field of plant taxonomy has transformed rapidly over the past fifteen years, especially with regard to improvements in cladistic analysis and the use of new molecular data. The second edition of this popular resource reflects these far-reaching and dramatic developments with more than 3,000 new references and many new figures. Synthesizing current research and trends, Plant Taxonomy now provides the most up-to-date overview in relation to monographic, biodiversity, and evolutionary studies, and continues to be an essential resource for students and scholars. This text is divided into two parts: Part 1 explains the principles of taxonomy, including the importance of systematics, characters, concepts of categories, and different approaches to biological classification. Part 2 outlines the different types of data used in plant taxonomic studies with suggestions on their efficacy and modes of presentation and evaluation. This section also lists the equipment and financial resources required for gathering each type of data. References throughout the book illuminate the historical development of taxonomic terminology and philosophy while citations offer further study. Plant Taxonomy is also a personal story of what it means to be a practicing taxonomist and to view these activities within a meaningful conceptual framework. Tod F. Stuessy recalls the progression of his own work and shares his belief that the most creative taxonomy is done by those who have a strong conceptual grasp of their own research.

Drug discovery is an expensive, time-consuming process and the modern drug discovery community is constantly challenged not only with discovering novel bioactive agents to combat resistance from known diseases and fight against new ones, but to do so in a way that is economically effective. Advances in both experimental and theoretical/computational methods envisage that the greatest challenges in drug discovery can be most successfully addressed by using a multi-scale approach, drawing on the specialties of a whole host of different disciplines. Multi-Scale Approaches to Drug Discovery furnishes chemists with the detail they need to identify drug leads with the highest potential before isolating and synthesizing them to produce effective drugs with greater swiftness than classical methods may allow. This significantly speeds up the search for more efficient therapeutic agents. After an introduction to multi-scale approaches outlining the need for and benefits of their use, the book goes on to explore a range of useful techniques and research areas, and their potential applications to this process. Profiling drug binding by thermodynamics, machine learning for predicting enzyme sub-classes, and multitasking models for computer-aided design and virtual compound screening are discussed, before the book goes on to review Alkaloid Menispermaceae leads, natural chemotherapeutic agents and methods for speeding up the design and virtual screening of therapeutic peptides. Flavonoids as multi-target compounds are then explored, before the book concludes with a review of Quasi-SMILES as a novel tool. Collecting together reviews and original research contributions written by leading experts in the field, Multi-Scale Approaches to Drug Discovery highlights cutting-edge approaches and practical examples of their implementation for those involved in the drug discovery process at many different levels. Using the combined knowledge of medicinal, computational, pharmaceutical and bio- chemists, it aims to support growth in the multi-scale approach to promote greater success in the development of new drugs. Offers practical guidance on ways to implement multiscale approaches for increased efficiency in drug discovery Draws on the experience of a highly skilled team of authors under the editorial guidance of one of the field's leading experts Includes cutting-edge techniques at the forefront of medicinal chemistry and drug discovery optimization

This book provides an overview of geographic patterns in the distribution of plant secondary metabolites in natural populations. It covers examples within continents, after the ice, intercontinental disjunctions, oceanic islands, and polar disjunctions.

Advances in the flavonoid field have been nothing short of spectacular over the last 20 years. While the medical field has noticed flavonoids for their potential antioxidant, anticancer and cardioprotectant characteristics, growers and processors in plant sciences have utilized flavonoid biosynthesis and the genetic manipulation of the flavonoid pa

Offering a wide ranging view of this important class of plant pigments, after a brief examination of the history & literature of flavonoids, this book explores structural variation of all subclasses of flavonoids, techniques for isolation, purification, & determination of structures, chemical syntheses, biosynthesis & genetics, patterns of distribution in the plant kingdom, & uses. Lastly, the functions of flavonoids in nature are investigated, as well as ways in which these compounds may have a more direct impact upon the human race. Contents: Introduction & Historical Perspective * Structural Variation * Occurrence & Distribution of Flavonoids * Extraction, Purification, & Identification of Flavonoids * Synthesis & Interconversions of Flavonoids * Biosynthesis & Genetics * Flavonoid Functions in Nature * Human Uses of Flavonoids