Section I. Introduction to the Sunflower Family.- 1. Biology and Distribution.- 2. Classification, Phylogeny and Biogeography.- Section II. Introduction to the Flavonoids.- 3. The Use of Flavonoids as Taxonomic Markers.- 4. Structural Variation of the Flavonoids of Asteraceae.- 5. Biosynthesis of Flavonoids.- 6. Biological Functions of Flavonoids.- Section III. Flavonoid Data.- 7. Flavonoids of Anthemideae.- 8. Flavonoids of Astereae.- 9. Flavonoids of Calenduleae and Cardueae.- 10. Flavonoids of Eupatorieae.- 11. Flavonoids of Heliantheae s.l.- 12. Flavonoids of Inuleae s.l.- 13. Flavonoids of Lactuceae.- 14. Flavonoids of Mutisieae and Barnadesioideae.- 15. Flavonoids of Senecioneae.- 16. Flavonoids of Tageteae.- 17. Flavonoids of Vernonieae and Liabeae.- Section IV. Efficacy of Flavonoids at Different Taxonomic Levels.- 18. Flavonoids at the Subfamilial Level.- 19. Flavonoids at the Tribal Level.- 20. Flavonoids at the Subtribal Level.- 21. Flavonoids at the Generic Level.- 22. Flavonoids at the Specific Level.- 23. Flavonoids at Infraspecific Levels.- Section V. Flavonoids as Indicators of the Evolutionary Process.- 24. Flavonoids and Populational Variation.- 25. Flavonoids and Hybridization and Introgression.- Section VI. Flavonoids and Phylogeny.- 26. Flavonoid Relationships with other Families.- 27. Evolution of the Flavonoid System in Asteraceae.- Addendum.- References.- Common Names of Flavonoids Used in This Book and Their Equivalents.- Chemical Index.- Taxon Index.

https://www.springer.com/cda/content/document/productFlyer/productFlyer_978-3-211-83479-4.pdf?SGWID=0-0-1297-2113255-0

Flavonoids of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae)

Artemisia dracunculus L. (tarragon) has a long history of use as a spice and remedy. Two well-described "cultivars" (Russian and French) are used widely and differ in ploidy level, morphology, and chemistry. Key biologically active secondary metabolites are essential oils (0.15-3.1%), coumarins (>1%), flavonoids, and phenolcarbonic acids. In vivo studies mainly in rodents, particularly from Russian sources, highlight potential anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and antihyperglycemic effects. Despite concerns about the toxic effects of two of its main constituents, estragole (up to 82%) and methyleugenol (up to 39%), no acute toxicity or mutagenic activity has been reported at doses relevant for human consumption. Water extracts of A. dracunculus contain very low amounts of estragole and methyleugenol and, therefore, are considered to pose a very limited risk. Overall, a stronger focus on clinical studies and precise taxonomic and phytochemical definition of the source material will be essential for future research efforts.

/pdf/artemisia-dracunculus-l-tarragon-a-critical-review-of-its-tbt1nwzwnr.pdf

Artemisia dracunculus L. (tarragon): a critical review of its traditional use, chemical composition, pharmacology, and safety.

https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2013/np/c3np70008a

The chemistry and biological activity of the Hyacinthaceae

Artemisia is one of the largest genera of the family Asteraceae or Compositae, itself the biggest flowering plant family. It comprises around 600 taxa at specific and subspecific levels, present in all continents but Antarctica, mostly distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, with no more than 25 taxa in the Southern Hemisphere. The genus displays a huge ecological plasticity, with species occurring from sea level to high mountains and from arid zones to wetlands. Some species are cosmopolitan, including landscape-dominating plants over large areas, and others are endemics with a quite restricted distribution area. Many species of the genus have economic uses at both folk and industrial levels, and some of them are widely cultivated and submitted to breeding programmes as crops. In this review, we will set out the state of art of Artemisia systematics and phylogeny, as well as all the biological aspects of the genus, with particular attention paid to those of genome organization, and of applied questions related to its useful taxa. In the first part of this chapter, we will review all the systematic points in the genus and in some closely related genera that constitute, with the core genus Artemisia, a pool with controversial structuring. Besides, the infrageneric classification will be addressed. All these questions will be treated in the light of recent molecular phylogenetic studies, which have had an important impact on its systematics and taxonomy. A second part will be devoted to genome organization and evolution in Artemisia, with special attention to cytogenetic data, including genome size, and genetic variability. These points are relevant for understanding the evolutionary pathways in the genus and for applied purposes. The third and fourth parts of the chapter will review, respectively, the uses of Artemisia species in different domains and the biotechnological issues linked to their productivity. Finally, the perspectives of the knowledge and applied aspects of the genus will be addressed.

Richard L. Braemer

Papers

Chemotaxonomic study of two cultivars of Artemisia dracunculus L.: (“French” and “Russian” Tarragon)

C-glucosylflavones in the genus Ornithogalum