Many cereals accumulate hydroxamic acids derived from 2-hydroxy-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one. These benzoxazinoid hydroxamic acids are involved in defense of maize against various lepidopteran pests, most notably the European corn borer, in defense of cereals against various aphid species, and in allelopathy affecting the growth of weeds associated with rye and wheat crops. The role of benzoxazinoid hydroxamic acids in defense against fungal infection is less clear and seems to depend on the nature of the interactions at the plant-fungus interface. Efficient use of benzoxazinoid hydroxamic acids as resistance factors has been limited by the inability to selectively increase their levels at the plant growth stage and the plant tissues where they are mostly needed for a given pest. Although the biosynthesis of benzoxazinoid hydroxamic acids has been elucidated, the genes and mechanisms controlling their differential expression in different plant tissues and along plant ontogeny remain to be unraveled.

Hydroxamic acids derived from 2-hydroxy-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one: key defense chemicals of cereals.

The aim of this review is to summarize the various naturally occurring chalcone compounds which have been isolated from different plants. Chalcones considered as obligate intermediated in flavonoid biosynthesis but they do not accumulate to appreciable degree in most plants. The largest number of natural chalcones has been isolated from species of the Leguminosae, Asteraceae and Moraceae families. Chalcone accumulating plants have often been used in traditional medicine and chalcones have therefore been studied and reported to possess many beneficial biological effects including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, cytotoxic, antitumor and chemopreventive activities. Previously published reviews on this topic survey the biological activities of natural and synthetic chalcones but there are no comprehensive contributions on occurrence and biological activities of natural chalcones. The present study provides an overview of hydroxy or/and methoxy-substituted chalcones, methylated, prenylated, geranylated and other monomeric derivatives, chromeno- and furanochalcones, dimeric chalcones and dihydrochalcone derivatives focusing on their biosynthesis, natural sources and biological activities. On the basis of 608 references, this review covers the phytochemistry and biological activity of natural chalcones, describing 646 compounds have been appeared in the literature since 1975. The summary is aimed to initiate further pharmacobotanical, biotechnological and medicinal studies on the field of chalcone research. This contribution reviews some of the general aspects of naturally occurring chalcones including their chemical categories, focusing on plant sources and biological activities. The review covers the major works appeared in the literature from 1975 up to 2014, relating to 608 references and 646 compounds.

Naturally occurring chalcones and their biological activities

Benzoxazinoid acetal glucosides are a unique class of natural products abundant in Gramineae, including the major agricultural crops maize, wheat, and rye. These secondary metabolites are also found in several dicotyledonous species. Benzoxazinoids serve as important factors of host plant resistance against microbial diseases and insects and as allelochemicals and endogenous ligands. Interdisciplinary investigations by biologists, biochemists, and chemists are stimulated by the intention to make agricultural use of the benzoxazinones as natural pesticides. These natural products are not only constituents of a plant defense system but also part of an active allelochemical system used in the competition with other plants. This review covers biological and chemical aspects of benzoxazinone research over the last decade with special emphasis on recent advances in the elucidation of the biosynthetic pathway.

Role of natural benzoxazinones in the survival strategy of plants

Non-targeted analysis of spatial metabolite composition in strawberry (Fragariaxananassa) flowers.

Artoindonesianins X and Y, two isoprenylated 2-arylbenzofurans, from Artocarpus fretessi (Moraceae).

Chalconoids from Fissistigma bracteolatum.

The leaves of Luvunga sarmentosa yielded two new apotirucallane triterpenoids, 3-epi-skimmiarepin A (1) and 21,23-epoxy-7α,21-dihydroxyapotirucalla-14,24-dien-3-one (2), and a new tirucallane trite...

Trinh Phuong Lien

Papers

Chalconoids from Fissistigma bracteolatum.

Apotirucallane and Tirucallane triterpenoids from Luvunga sarmentosa.

Fissistigmatins A–D: Novel Type Natural Products with Flavonoid–Sesquiterpene Hybrid Structure from Fissistigma bracteolatum

Bis-indole alkaloids from Tabernaemontana bovina.

Indole alkaloids from Tabernaemontana bovina