* This book is designed for the use of the advanced student and professional worker interested in the international scientific community, particularly those in the fields of agronomy, agricultural sciences, botany, biological sciences, natural products chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry and bio chemistry. The purpose is to inform the reader about significant advances in the biology and metabolism of alkaloids in plants. Since alkaloids are generally referred to as "secondary metabolites," the reactions discussed are not, for the most part, involved with the main metabolic pathways. The reactions that we are interested in are pathways that have been developed for the formation of these secondary metabolites, using as their starting mole cules one of the compounds produced via a main or primary metabolic path way. The primary metabolic pathways are common to all plants, indeed to most living organisms, whereas the highly specialized branches leading to alkaloid formation are found in only about 10 to 20 % of the known plants. The reason for these diversities in plant metabolism is not clear; however, it seems likely that the formation of highly individualized and specialized pathways resulted as a response to the pressure of natural selection. Nevertheless, the genetic peculiarity that controls alkaloid production has provided many extremely interesting problems for scientists and consti tutes convincing evidence of nature's superior ability in biochemistry.

Plant Alkaloids: A Guide to Their Discovery and Distribution serves as a record of both the positive and negative results obtained in the screening of more than 20,000 plant species for alkaloids in a forty-year search for new medicinal agents and other pharmacological substances. Designed to increase general knowledge of the Plant Kingdom, this book equips present and future generations of phytochemists with the skills and knowledge necessary for developing new alkaloid compounds. Recording the results of screening tests from approximately 400 genera of plants found primarily in zones beneath 45? N Latitude, Plant Alkaloids contributes to the efforts to calculate and safeguard the resources of the rainforests of the world. By offering results `from the field,'Plant Alkaloids surpasses the tradition of books on alkaloid chemistry that only emphasize the chemical and physical properties of known compounds, their established structures, biogenetic origins, taxonomic usefulness, and pharmacological actions. These results, in many cases, constitute the first record of the probable presence of alkaloids in the species under study. By documenting both positive and negative results, Plant Alkaloids directs the search for potentially new and useful compounds, while alleviating much of the time and expense of screening plants where results have already been obtained.An invaluable reference book for scientists in any of the life sciences, Plant Alkaloids provides a general index containing references to standard works on alkaloid chemistry and the subject?s vast literature. In addition to offering a description of the size of each plant family and its economic importance, this book also lists the genera and species of each plant tested according to accepted taxonomic names and notes disagreement over taxonomic assignment where it exists.

"Alkaloids" is intended for by chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacy, and other medical students, biologists, chemists, biochemists, and other professionals involved in the field of alkaloids. All chapters in this book are written by professionals in the areas of alkaloid chemistry, biology, pharmacy, and other interesting applications. The chapters cover interesting and less obvious information about different groups of alkaloids.

Alkaloids - Secrets of Life: Alkaloid Chemistry, Biological Significance, Applications and Ecological Role, Second Edition provides knowledge on structural typology, biosynthesis and metabolism in relation to recent research work on alkaloids, considering an organic chemistry approach to alkaloids using biological and ecological explanation. The book approaches several questions and unresearched areas that persist in this field of research. It provides a beneficial text for academics, professionals or anyone who is interested in the fascinating subject of alkaloids. Each chapter features an abstract. Appendices, a listing of alkaloids, and plants containing alkaloids are all included, as are basic protocols of alkaloid analysis. - Presents the ecological role of alkaloids in nature and ecosystems interdisciplinary - Examines alkaloids from chemistry, biology and ecology viewpoints - A single handy reference volume comprehensively reviews the origin of alkaloids and their biological uses - Over 80% new information, including new chapters on the ecological role of alkaloids in nature and ecosystems and extraction of alkaloids

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