Non-Polar Natural Products from Bromelia laciniosa, Neoglaziovia variegata and Encholirium spectabile (Bromeliaceae).

Extensive regional droughts are already a major problem on all inhabited continents and severe regional droughts are expected to become an increasing and extended problem in the future. Consequently, extended use of available drought resistant food plants should be encouraged. , and are excellent candidates in that respect because they are established drought resistant edible plants from the semi-arid Caatinga region.

Toxic aromatic compounds from fruits of Narthecium ossifragum L.

The intake of Narthecium ossifragum, commonly known as bog asphodel, has been associated with toxic effects observed in sheep for centuries. Although the plant has been studied for five centuries little is known about its chemical constituents. Six previously undescribed natural products, naringenin(3 → 6″)luteolin, naringenin(3 → 6″)chrysoeriol, liovil 4-O-β-glucopyranoside, 2,6-dimethoxy cinnamic acid, (E)-4-(3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylchroman-6-yl)but-3-en-2-one and (E)-4-(4-(((E)-4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl)oxy)phenyl)but-3-en-2-one, have been identified from fruits of N.

Growing with dinosaurs: natural products from the Cretaceous relict Hu & Cheng-a molecular reservoir from the ancient world with potential in modern medicine.

After the sensational rediscovery of living exemplars of the Cretaceous relict -a tree previously known exclusively from fossils from various locations in the northern hemisphere, there has been an increasing interest in discovery of novel natural products from this unique plant source. This article includes the first complete compilation of natural products reported from during the entire period in which the tree has been investigated (1954-2014) with main focus on the compounds specific to this plant source. Studies on the biological activity of pure compounds and extracts derived from are reviewed for the first time.

First identification of natural products from the African medicinal plant Zamioculcas zamiifolia - A drought resistant survivor through millions of years.

Zamioculcas zamiifolia, an unusually drought resistant medicinal plant native to tropical east Africa and subtropical southeast Africa, including the countries Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South-Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, is described as a living fossil which may have evolved as early as 42 million years ago. It belongs to the notoriously toxic family Araceae giving it, through association, a reputation for being toxic; despite little or no systematic evidence exists to support this claim. As an ancient plant it has sustained substantial climate changes and attacks from millions of generations of pathogenic microorganisms, which encouraged search for novel natural products from this source.

6-carboxydihydroresveratrol 3-O-β-glucopyranoside--a novel natural product from the Cretaceous relict Metasequoia glyptostroboides.

Metasequoia glyptostroboides, a tree native to China, is described as a living fossil and has existed for millions of years. The oldest fossils recorded have been dated to the late Cretaceous era. During the time of its existence, the molecular defence system of the tree has apparently resisted millions of generations of pathogens, which encouraged search for novel natural product from this source.

Novel GHB-derived natural products from European mistletoe (Viscum album).

Context: The European white-berry mistletoe [Viscum album L. (Loranthaceae)] is among the oldest known medicinal plants. At present the most important application of mistletoe extracts is in the treatment of cancer.