Plant Secondary Metabolites

Alan Crozier is Professor of Plant Biochemistry and Human Nutrition in the Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences at the University of Glasgow, UK, Mike Clifford is Professor of Food Safety in the School of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences at the University of Surrey, UK, and Hiroshi Ashihara is Professor of Plant Biochemistry in the Department of Biology at Ochanomizu University, Tokyo, Japan. Contributors to the book:Dr Michael H BealeDr Kirsten BrandtDr Lars P ChristensenDr Jennifer L DonovanProfessor Peter J FacchiniDr Richard M FaulksProfessor Glenn R GibsonDr Andrew J HumphreyDr Indu B JaganathDr Paul A KroonDr David K LiscombeDr Claudine ManachDr Serena MarksProfessor Richard MithenDr Michael SaltmarshDr Kieran M TuohyDr Takao YokotaDr Katherine G Zulak

"This book provides an excellent in-depth overview of the major plant secondary metabolities which have been inverstigated for health effects in recent years ... I believe this book will be of interest to a wide array of readers, including plant biologists, nutritional biochemists, public health scientists and medical doctors, who need an overview of natural products and the pathways of their formation." (The Biochemist, 1 February 2012) "I'd strongly recommend this book for a variety of scientists. Not only is it up to date, but it is also very readable. The topics are related to the real world of food science in an effective way. Most scientists (including graduate students) in areas of study related to chemistry, biology and food science will find the book of value and a good investment." Chemistry World "The information in the book is recent and easy to locate…would serve well as a textbook for graduate students…as well as a good reference source.” Inform"Of great value for botanists looking for basic information about plant chemical compounds." Folia Geobotanica

• Contributors. 1 Phenols, Polyphenols and Tannins: An Overview (Alan Crozier, Indu B. Jaganath and Michael N. Clifford).1.1 Introduction.1.2 Classification of phenolic compounds.1.3 Biosynthesis.1.4 Genetic engineering of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway.1.5 Databases.2 Sulphur-Containing Compounds (Richard Mithen).2.1 Introduction.2.2 The glucosinolates-myrosinase system.2.3 Chemical diversity of glucosinolates in dietary crucifers.2.4 Biosynthesis.2.5 Genetic factors affecting glucosinolate content.2.6 Environmental factors affecting glucosinolate content.2.7 Myrosinases and glucosinolate hydrolysis.2.8 Hydrolytic products.2.9 Metabolism and detoxification of isothiocyanates.2.10 The Alliin-alliinase system.2.11 Biological activity of sulphur-containing compounds.2.12 Anti-nutritional effects in livestock and humans.2.13 Beneficial effects of sulphur-containing compounds in the human diet.3 Terpenes (Andrew J. Humphrey and Michael H. Beale).3.1 Introduction.3.2 The biosynthesis of IPP and DMAPP.3.3 Enzymes of terpene biosynthesis.3.4 Isoprenoid biosynthesis in the plastids.3.5 Isoprenoid biosynthesis in the cytosol.3.6 Terpenes in the environment and human health: future prospects.4 Alkaloids (Katherine G. Zulak, David K. Liscombe, Hiroshi Ashihara and Peter J. Facchini).4.1 Introduction.4.2 Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids.4.3 Tropane alkaloids.4.4 Nicotine.4.5 Terpenoid indole alkaloids.4.6 Purine alkaloids.4.7 Pyrrolizidine alkaloids.4.8 Other alkaloids.4.9 Metabolic engineering.5 Acetylenes and Psoralens (Lars P. Christensen and Kirsten Brandt).5.1 Introduction.5.2 Acetylenes in common food plants.5.3 Psoralens in common food plants.5.4 Perspectives in relation to food safety.6. Functions of the Human Intestinal Flora: The Use of Probiotics and Prebiotics (Kieran M. Tuohy and Glenn R. Gibson).6.1 Introduction.6.2 Composition of the gut microflora.6.3 Successional development and the gut microflora in old age.6.4 Modulation of the gut microflora through dietary means.6.5 In vitro and in vivo measurement of microbial activities.6.6 Molecular methodologies for assessing microflora changes.6.7 Assessing the impact of dietary modulation of the gut microflora-does it improve health, what are the likelihoods for success and what are the biomarkers of efficacy?6.8 Justification for the use of probiotics and prebiotics to modulate the gut flora composition.7 Secondary Metabolites in Fruits, Vegetables, Beverages and Other Plant-Based Dietary Components (Alan Crozier, Takao Yokota, Indu B. Jaganath, Serena Marks, Michael Saltmarsh and Michael N. Clifford).7.1 Introduction.7.2 Dietary phytochemicals.7.3 Vegetables.7.4 Fruits.7.5 Herbs and spices.7.6 Cereals.7.7 Nuts.7.8 Algae.7.9 Beverages.7.10 Databases.8 Absorption and Metabolism of Dietary Plant Secondary Metabolites (Jennifer L. Donovan, Claudine Manach, Richard M. Faulks and Paul A. Kroon).8.1 Introduction.8.2 Flavonoids.8.3 Hydroxycinnamic acids.8.4 Gallic acid and ellagic acid.8.5 Dihydrochalcones.8.6 Betalains.8.7 Glucosinolates.8.8 Carotenoids.8.9 Conclusions.Index.