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Plant Polyphenols 2 pp 83–99Cite as

Toward Understanding Monomeric Ellagitannin Biosynthesis

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Part of the book series: Basic Life Sciences ((BLSC,volume 66))

Abstract

Ellagitannins are found in approximately 40 percent of all dicotyledenous plants ranging from raspberries to the oaks.1–3 By definition, this class of compounds is composed of only glucose and biaryl-linked gallic acid. Though these two compounds are relatively simple in structure, the complexity of the compounds that can be formed is tremendous. Ellagitannins are seemingly a natural combinatorial library, with over 500 different compounds isolated and identified to date. Due to their relatively high oxidation potential4 and ability to bind heavy metals5 and proteins,6 research efforts have been directed at understanding their roles in environment-plant interactions,7 human health,8 timber processing,9 and spirits manufacture.10

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Wood Science and Forest Products, Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061-0346, USA

    Richard F. Helm, Lei Zhentian, Thilini Ranatunga & Judith Jervis

  2. Department of Forestry, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, 36849, USA

    Thomas Elder

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  1. Richard F. Helm
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  2. Lei Zhentian
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  3. Thilini Ranatunga
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  4. Judith Jervis
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  5. Thomas Elder
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany

    Georg G. Gross

  2. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pineville, Louisiana, USA

    Richard W. Hemingway

  3. University of Okayama, Okayama, Japan

    Takashi Yoshida

  4. Kenner, Louisiana, USA

    Susan J. Branham

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© 1999 Kluwer Academic / Plenum Publishers, New York

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Helm, R.F., Zhentian, L., Ranatunga, T., Jervis, J., Elder, T. (1999). Toward Understanding Monomeric Ellagitannin Biosynthesis. In: Gross, G.G., Hemingway, R.W., Yoshida, T., Branham, S.J. (eds) Plant Polyphenols 2. Basic Life Sciences, vol 66. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4139-4_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4139-4_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-306-46218-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-4139-4

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