Biochemical Targets of Plant Bioactive Compounds A Pharmacological Reference Guide to Sites of Action and Biological Effects

This volume is a comprehensive and user-friendly reference guide to biochemical targets of plant defensive compounds. It presents a goldmine of succinctly summarized information relating to bioactive compound structures, plant sources, biochemical targets and physiological effects that can be readily accessed via the plant genus index and chemical compound index. With introductory chapters providing reviews of the structural diversity of plant defensive compounds and biochemistry, Biochemical Targets of Plant Bioactive Compounds is an invaluable reference for biomedical professionals in the fields of complementary medicine, natural product chemistry, toxicology, and pharmacology.

When introduced to the human body, bioactive metabolites produced by plants for self defense bind to particular biochemical targets, most notably to proteins involved in signaling by hormones and neurotransmitters. This, essentially, is the basis for the effects of herbal medicine. While herbal medicine preparations may act by complex synergistic interactions, molecular explanations of herbal medicine efficacy and side effects ultimately require definition of the biochemical targets of individual plant bioactive constituents. Biochemical Targets of Plant Bioactive Compounds is a comprehensive and user-friendly reference guide to biochemical targets of plant defensive compounds. With 500 pages of tables, it presents a mine of succinctly summarized information relating to bioactive compound structures, plant sources, biochemical targets and physiological effects that can be readily accessed via chemical compound, plant genus, plant common name and subject indexes. With introductory chapters providing reviews of the structural diversity of plant defensive compounds and biochemistry, this book is an invaluable reference for biomedical professionals in the fields of alternative/complementary medicine, natural product chemistry, toxicology, pharmacology, and botany.

PLANT DEFENSIVE COMPOUNDS AND THEIR MOLECULAR TARGETSIntroductionOrganization and Scope of the BookDescription of the TablesUsing the TablesThe Structural Diversity of Plant Defensive CompoundsPlant AlkaloidsPlant PhenolicsPlant TerpenesOther Plant CompoundsBIOCHEMISTRY - THE CHEMISTRY OF LIFEIntroduction - Water-based LifeProtein StructureEnzymes and Ligand-binding ProteinsMetabolic StrategiesInhibition of Biochemical Processes by Plant Defensive CompoundsNEUROTRANSMITTER- AND HORMONE-GATED ION CHANNELSIntroduction - Electrical Signaling in Excitable CellsIonotropic Neurotransmitter Receptors - Neurotransmitter-gated Ion ChannelsStructure and Function of Ionotropic ReceptorsION PUMPS, LIGAND- AND VOLTAGE-GATED ION CHANNELSIntroductionIon PumpsVoltage-gated Na+ ChannelsLigand-Regulated and Voltage-gated K+ ChannelsVoltage-gated Ca2+ ChannelsLigand-gated Ca2+ ChannelsChloride Transport and Voltage-regulated Chloride ChannelsPLASMA MEMBRANE G PROTEIN-COUPLED RECEPTORSIntroduction - Signaling Via Heterotrimeric G ProteinsG Protein-coupled Hormone and Neurotransmitter ReceptorsHormones and Neurotransmitters Acting Via G Protein-coupled ReceptorsActivation of Specific G Protein-coupled ReceptorsLeucocyte- and Inflammation-related G Protein-linked ReceptorsOther G Protein-coupled ReceptorsNEUROTRANSMITTER TRANSPORTERS AND CONVERTERSIntroductionSynthesis of NeurotransmittersRelease of Neurotransmitters from Synaptic VesiclesRe-uptake of Neurotransmitters into Neurons and Synaptic VesiclesNeurotransmitter DegradationCYCLIC NUCLEOTIDE-, Ca2+- AND NITRIC OXIDE-BASED SIGNALINGIntroductionCa2+- and Calmodulin-dependent EnzymesAdenylyl CyclaseMembrane-bound and Soluble Guanylyl CyclasesNitric Oxide SynthesisCyclic AMP- and Cyclic GMP-dependent Protein KinasesProtein Kinase Homologies and Phosphoprotein PhosphatasesCyclic Nucleotide PhosphodiesterasesSIGNAL-REGULATED PROTEIN KINASESIntroductionCyclic AMP-dependent Protein KinaseCyclic GMP-dependent Protein KinaseProtein Kinase CCa2+ -calmodulin-dependent Protein KinasesAMP-dependent Protein KinaseReceptor Tyrosine KinasesProtein Kinase BCytokine Activation of the JAK/STAT PathwayCell Cycle ControlReceptor Serine/Threonine KinasesOther Protein KinasesPhosphoprotein PhosphatasesGENE EXPRESSION, CELL DIVISION AND APOPTOSISIntroductionRegulation of Gene Expression in ProkaryotesRegulation of Transcription in EukaryotesRNA Processing and TranslationControl of TranslationProtein Processing and Post-translational ModificationProtein TargetingCell Division and ApoptosisHIV-1 Infection and HIV-1 ReplicationPlant Compounds Interfering with Gene ExpressionTASTE AND SMELL PERCEPTION, PHEROMONES AND SEMIOCHEMICALSIntroductionSweet Taste ReceptorsBitter Taste ReceptorsSalty Taste PerceptionSour Taste PerceptionUmami (Glutamate Taste Perception)Odorant PerceptionAnimal Pheromones and Other Animal Bioactivities Produced by PlantsOther Plant Semiochemicals Affecting Animal BehaviorOdoriferous Animal Metabolites of Ingested Plant CompoundsAGONISTS AND ANTAGONISTS OF CYTOSOLIC HORMONE RECEPTORSIntroductionSteroid HormonesNon-steroid Cytosolic Hormone Receptor LigandsPlant Bioactives Affecting Cyctosolic Receptor-mediated SignalingPOLYNUCLEOTIDES, POLYSACCHARIDES, PHOSPHOLIPIDS AND MEMBRANESIntroductionPolynucleotidesPolysaccharides and OligosaccharidesPhospholipids and MembranesINHIBITORS OF DIGESTION AND METABOLISMIntroductionGlycohydrolasesProteasesGlycolysis and Tricarboxylic Acid CycleMitochondrial Electron Transport and Oxidative PhosphorylationGluconeogenesisSolute TranslocationANTI-INFLAMMATORY, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIDIABETIC PLANT COMPOUNDSIntroductionAdhesion and Movement of Inflammatory LeucocytesChemokinesPhagocytosisKinins, Cytokines, Platelet Activating Factor and EicosanoidsPlant-derived Anti-inflammatory CompoundsDiabetes Mellitus and Plant Antidiabetic CompoundsSummaryAppendixBibliographyCompound IndexPlant Genus IndexPlant Common Names IndexSubject IndexAbbreviations

Gideon Polya