Year: 1971
Type: article
Abstract: The discovery of ecdysones, moulting hormones of insects and crustaceans, from plants in late 1966 has resulted in subsequent isolationsofatotal of about 40 new phytoecdysones.This has contributed a great deal to the understanding of the chemistry and physicochemical data of ecdysones.A general account of these aspects is given, together with results of preliminary bio-organic studies concerning the metabolic fate of exogenaus ecdysones and the site of biosynthesis of ecdysones in the silkworm.Finally, very recently several plants have been discovered to contain substances which inhibit the moulting as bioassayed by the topical dipping method.The structure of the first to be elucidated, ajugalactone, is discussed.The second inhibitor to be isolated is.interesting because it is a non-steroid.Another intriguing aspect of these inhibitors is their specificity towards the ecdysone structure.* Since the discovery of ecdysone-active hydroxy steroids from plants, it is convenient, in some cases, to differentiate those with the prefix phytofrom those isolated from insects ;and Crustacea (zooecdysones ).However, most zooecdysones are present in plants as weil.
Source: Pure and Applied Chemistry
Author: Koji Nakanishi
Institution: Columbia University
Language: English
Subfield: Organic Chemistry
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Funder: National Institutes of Health
OpenAlex ID: W4245161909