Sesquiterpene lactone
Class of chemical compounds in plants
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) are a class of sesquiterpenoids that contain a lactone ring. They are most often found in plants of the family Asteraceae (daisies, asters). Other plant families with SLs are Umbelliferae (celery, parsley, carrots) and Magnoliaceae (magnolias). A collection of colorless, lipophilic solids, SLs are a rich source of drugs.[1] They can be allergenic and toxic in grazing livestock[2] causing severe neurological problems in horses. Some are also found in corals of the order Octocorallia.
Types
A: Germacranolides, B: Heliangolides, C+D: Guaianolides, E: Pseudoguaianolides, F: Hypocretenolides, G: Eudesmanolides.
Sesquiterpene lactones can be divided into several main classes including germacranolides, heliangolides, guaianolides, pseudoguaianolides, hypocretenolides, and eudesmanolides.
Examples
Artemisinin, a new, highly-effective anti-malarial compound, is a sesquiterpene lactone found in Artemisia annua. Lactucin, desoxylactucin, lactucopicrin, lactucin-15-oxalate, lactucopicrin-15-oxalate are some of the most prominent found in lettuce and spinach, giving most of the bitter taste to these crops.
One eudesmanolide, 3-oxo-5αH,8βH-eudesma-1,4(15),7(11)-trien-8,12-olide, can work with vernolic acid and other compounds in plants to reduce inflammation.[3]
Sesquiterpene lactone-containing plants
Some plants containing these compounds include:
- Artichoke
- Eupatorium[4]
- Burdock
- Calea ternifolia
- Chamomile
- Chrysanthemum
- Dandelion (Taraxacum sp.) [5]
- Cocklebur
- Feverfew
- Gaillardia
- Ginkgo biloba
- Laurus nobilis[6]
- Lettuce (Lactuca)
- Mugwort
- Parthenium
- Iva (marsh elders)
- Pyrethrum
- Ragweed
- Sagebrush
- Spinach
- Star anise
- Sunflower
- Vernonia[7]
- Wormwood
- Yellow star thistle
Quorum sensing inhibitors
Sesquiterpene lactones have been found to possess the ability to inhibit quorum sensing in bacteria.[8]
