The development of fungal endophytes of the genus Epichloë in grasses results in the production of different groups of alkaloids, whose mechanism and biological spectrum of toxicity can differ considerably. Ergot alkaloids, when present in endophyte-infected tall fescue, are responsible for "fescue toxicosis" in livestock, whereas indole-diterpene alkaloids, when present in endophyte-infected r...

Plants synthesize numerous secondary metabolites that are used as developmental signals or as defense against pathogens. Tryptophan (Trp)-derived secondary metabolites include camalexin, indole glucosinolates, and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA); however, the steps in their synthesis from Trp or its precursors remain unclear. We have identified two Arabidopsis cytochrome P450s (CYP79B2 and CYP79B3) ...

Alkaloid profiles of two Lupinus species growing naturally in Egypt (L. albus albus [synonym L. termis], L. varius orientalis) in addition to two New World species (L. hartwegii, L. densiflorus) which were cultivated in Egypt were studied by capillary GLC and GLC-mass spectrometry with respect to quinolizidine alkaloids. Altogether 44 quinolizidine, bipiperidyl and proto-indole alkaloids were i...

Cell suspension cultures o f Catharanthus roseus have been subjected to various media condi­ tions in order to stimulate the formation o f indole alkaloids. High ajmalicine contents (up to 0.5 m g/g cell fresh weight) were achieved by transferring 2-week-old cell suspensions to a 10-fold volume of a 8% sucrose solution. The alkaloid accumulation started two days after the transfer and reached a...

The active compounds obtained from some medicinal plants used traditionally worldwide for the treatment of leishmaniasis are reviewed. Among these active molecules, described in recent literature are quinoline alkaloids such as alkyl-2 quinoline and aryl-2 quinoline from Galipea longiflora, isoquinoline alkaloids such as isoguattouregidine from Guatteria foliosa, indole alkaloids such as conodu...

Ergot alkaloids are nitrogen-containing natural products belonging to indole alkaloids. The best known producers are fungi of the phylum Ascomycota, e.g., Claviceps, Epichloë, Penicillium and Aspergillus species. According to their structures, ergot alkaloids can be divided into three groups: clavines, lysergic acid amides and peptides (ergopeptines). All of them share the first biosynthetic st...

Lesser Periwinkle (Vinca minor L.), a member of Apocynaceae, is not only an ornamental plant with lilac-blue flowers, but also a medical plant producing an important alkaloid, vincamine, found in the leaves which shows a pronounced cerebrovasodilatory and neuroprotective activity. This plant is native to northern Spain, western France, central and southern Europe, and Caucasus. It has been rece...