Main description:

This book focuses on the different compounds (polyphenols, sterols, alkaloids terpenes) that arise from the secondary metabolism of plants and fungi and their importance for research and industry. These compounds have been the backbone and inspiration of various industries like the food, pharmaceutical and others to produce synthetic counterparts. Furthermore, many of these compounds are still widely used to carry out specific functions in all these industries. This book offers a compilation of different texts from world leading scientists in the areas of chemistry, biochemistry, plant science, biotechnology which compile information on each group of secondary metabolism compounds, and their most important applications in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and textile industry. By showcasing the best uses of these compounds, the chemistry behind their production in plants and fungi, this book is a valuable resource and a "go to" artifact for various audiences. The new approach this book offers, by linking research and the application of these compounds, makes it interesting as an inspiration for new research or as a hallmark of what has been done in the secondary metabolism of plants and fungi in recent years. Although this book may be technical, it is also enjoyable as an integral reading experience due to a structured and integrated flow, from the origins of secondary metabolism in organisms, to the discovery of their effects, their high intensity research in recent years and translation into various industries. Beyond learning more on their chemistry, synthesis, metabolic pathway, readers will understand their importance to different research and industry.

Contents:

1. History of Secondary Metabolites: From Ancient Myths to Modern Scientific Validation (Marcio Carocho, Sandrina Heleno, Lillian Barros - Instituto Politecnico de Braganca, Portugal)

2. Plant Secondary Metabolites:

2.1. Biochemistry of Secondary Metabolism in Plants (Daniel Granato - Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE), Finland)

2.2. Phenolic Acids (Celestino Santos-Buelga - University of Salamanca, Spain)

2.3. Flavonoids (Manuela Pintado - Portuguese Catholic University, Portugal)

2.4. Terpenes (Patricia Morales - Complutense University of Madrid, Spain)

2.5. Alkaloids (Miguel Angel Prieto - University of Vigo, Spain)

2.6. Polyketides (Borhane E.C. Ziani - Centre de Recherce Scientifique et Technique em Analyses Physico-Chimiques, Algeria)

2.7. Tocopherols and Phytosterols (Francesco DiGioia - University of Pensilvania, United States of America)

2.8. Anthra-, Benzo- and Naphthoquinones (Ana Carvalho - Polytechnic Institute of Braganca, Portugal)

2.9. Other Nitrogen Containing Compounds (Manuel Coimbra - University of Aveiro, Portugal)

2.10. Other Sulfur Containing Compounds (Nikolaos Tzortzakis - Cyprus University of Technology)

2.11. Influence of Genetics on Secondary Metabolism in Plants (Juergen Kroymann - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Fance)

3. Fungi Secondary Metabolites

3.1. Biochemistry of Secondary Metabolism in Fungi (Barbara Howlett - University of Melbourne, Australia)

3.2. Phenolic Acids (Anabela Martins - Instituto Politecnico de Braganca, Portugal)

3.3. Terpenes (Beatriz Oliveira - University of Porto, Portugal)

3.4. Alkaloids (Piotr Pawel Wieczorek - Opole University, Poland)

3.5. Poliketides (Ana M. Calvo - Northern Illinois University, United States of America)

3.6. Anthra-, Benzo- and Naphthoquinones (Maria Joao Queiroz - University of Minho, Portugal)

3.7. Other Nitrogen Containing Compounds (Yang Ye - Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, China)

3.8. Other Sulfur Containing Compounds (Alessandro Venditti - University of Rome, Italy)

3.9. Tocopherols and Mycosterols (Rosane Maria Peralta - State University of Maringa, Brazil)

3.10. Influence of Genetics on Secondary Metabolism in Fungi (Nancy P. Keller - University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States of America)

4. Food Industry

4.1 Application of Plant Secondary Metabolites (Spyridon Petropoulus - University of Thessaly, Greece)

4.2. Application of Fungi Secondary Metabolites (Marina Sokovic - University of Belgrade, Serbia)

5. Pharmaceutical Industry

5.1. New Trends from Plant Secondary Metabolites (Helena Soares da Costa - National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Portugal)

5.2. New Trends from Fungi Secondary Metabolites (Leo J.L.D. Van Griensven - University of Wageningen, Netherlands)

6. Cosmetic Industry: Natural Secondary Metabolites for Beauty and Aging (Andrei Mocan - University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

7. Textile Industry: From Natural Metabolites to Natural Clothing (Nuno Belino - Universidade da Beira Interior, Portugal)

8. New Challenges and Opportunities from Secondary Metabolites (Marcio Carocho, Sandrina Heleno, Lillian Barros - Instituto Politecnico de Braganca, Portugal)