摘要
The 1,4-naphthoquinones(1,4-NQs)are a diverse group of natural products found in every kingdom of life.Plants,including many horticultural species,collectively synthesize hundreds of specialized 1,4-NQs with ecological roles in plant–plant(allelopathy),plant–insect and plant–microbe interactions.Numerous horticultural plants producing 1,4-NQs have also served as sources of traditional medicines for hundreds of years.As a result,horticultural species have been at the forefront of many basic studies conducted to understand the metabolism and function of specialized plant 1,4-NQs.Several 1,4-NQ natural products derived from horticultural plants have also emerged as promising scaffolds for developing new drugs.In this review,the current understanding of the core metabolic pathways leading to plant 1,4-NQs is provided with additional emphasis on downstream natural products originating from horticultural species.An overview on the biochemical mechanisms of action,both from an ecological and pharmacological perspective,of 1,4-NQs derived from horticultural plants is also provided.In addition,future directions for improving basic knowledge about plant 1,4-NQ metabolism are discussed.
基金
This work was supported by start-up funds from Purdue University to JRW.
