Abstract
We can safely assume that most alkaloids play an important role in the ecology of plants. In general, alkaloids serve as defense chemicals against herbivores and to a lesser degree against bacteria, fungi, and viruses or provide a means of interaction with other plants (see Chapters 13 and 14). A protective function has also been attributed to those alkaloids that are produced or sequestered by animals (see Chapters 15 and 16). In order to fulfill this function, alkaloids must closely interact with specific targets in herbivores, predators, microorganisms, or competing plants, i.e., they must either inhibit or otherwise deregulate important processes that are vital for these organisms. A thorough understanding of how these capabilities are effected is important for a comprehension of the evolutionary and ecological implications of alkaloids and their rational use in medicine or as natural pesticides in agriculture.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Major Reviews
Alberts, B., Bray, D., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., and Watson, J. D., 1993, Molecular Biology of the Cell, 3rd ed., Garland, New York.
Habermehl, G., 1983, Gifttiere und ihre Waffen, Springer, Berlin.
Harborne, J. B., 1993, Introduction to Ecological Biochemistry, 4th ed., Academic Press, San Diego.
Luckner, M., 1990, Secondary Metabolism in Microorganisms, Plants and Animals, Springer, Berlin.
Mann, J., 1992, Murder, Magic and Medicine, Oxford University Press, London.
Mothes, K., Schütte, H. R., and Luckner, M., 1985, Biochemistry of Alkaloids, VCH, Weinheim.
Mutschier, E., 1981, Arzneimittelwirkungen, WVG, Stuttgart.
Rimpler, H., 1990, Pharmazeutische Biologie II: Biogene Arzeneistojfe, Thieme, Stuttgart.
Robinson, T. A., 1981, The Biochemistry of Alkaloids, Springer, Berlin.
Rosenthal, G. A., and Berenbaum, M. R., 1991, Herbivores: Their Interactions with Secondary Plant Metabolites, Vol. 1, Academic Press, San Diego.
Rosenthal, G. A., and Berenbaum, M. R., 1992, Herbivores: Their Interactions with Secondary Plant Metabolites, Vol. 2, Academic Press, San Diego.
Roth, L., Daunderer, M., and Kormann, K., 1994, Giftpflanzen und Pflanzengifte, 4th ed., Ecomed, Landsberg.
Teuscher, E., and Lindequist, U., 1994, Biogene Gifte, Fischer, Stuttgart.
Wagner, H., 1993, Pharmazeutische Biologic 2. Drogen und ihre Inhaltsstoffe, Fischer, Stuttgart.
Waller, G., 1987, Allelochemicals: Roles in Agriculture and Forestry, ACS Symp. Ser. 330.
Wink, M., 1992a, Die chemische Verteidigung der Pflanzen und die Anpassungen der Pflanzenfresser, in: “Lupinen 1991—Forschung, Anbau und Verwertung (M. Wink, ed.), University of Heidelberg Press, Heidelberg, pp. 130–156.
Wink, M., 1992b, The role of quinolizidine alkaloids in plant insect interactions, in: Insect-Plant Interactions, Vol. IV (E. A. Bernays, ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp. 133–169.
Wink, M., 1993a, Allelochemical properties or the raison d’être of alkaloids, in: The Alkaloids, Vol. 43 (G. A. Cordeil, ed.), Academic Press, San Diego, pp. 1–118.
Wink, M., 1993b, Production and application of phytochemicals from an agricultural perspective, in: Phy-tochemistry and Agriculture, Vol. 34, Proc. Phytochem. Soc. Eur. (T. A. van Beek and H. Breteler, eds.), Oxford University Press, London, pp. 171–213.
Key References
Holzinger, F., Frick, C., and Wink, M., 1992, Molecular base for the insensitivity of the monarch (Danaus plexippus) to cardiac glycosides, FEBS Lett. 314:477–480.
Kebabian, J. W., and Neumeyer, J. L., 1994, The RBI Handbook of Receptor Classification, RBI, Natick.
Lodish, H., Baltimore, D., Berk, A., Zipursky, S. L., Matsudaira, P., and Darnell, J., 1995, Molculear Cell Biology. 3rd Ed., Scientific American Books, Inc., New York.
Reynolds, J. E. F. (ed.), 1993, Martindale—The Extra Pharmacopoeia, The Pharmaceutical Press, London.
Schmeller, T., Sauerwein, M., Sporer, F., Müller, W. E., and Wink, M., 1994, Binding of quinolizidine alkaloids to nicotinic and muscarinic receptors, J. Nat. Prod. 57:1316–1319.
Schmeller, T., Sporer, F., Sauerwein, M., and Wink, M., 1995, Binding of tropane alkaloids to nicotinic and muscarinic receptors, Pharmazie 50:493–495.
Wink, M., and Latz-Brüning, B., 1995, Allelopathic properties of alkaloids and other natural products: Possible modes of action, in: Allelopathy: Organisms, Processes and Applications (Inderjit, Dakshini, K. M. M., and Einhellig, F. A., eds.), ACS Symp. Ser. 582, pp. 117–126.
Wink, M., and Twardowski, T., 1992, Allelochemical properties of alkaloids. Effects on plants, bacteria and protein biosynthesis, in: Allelopathy: Basic and Applied Aspects (S. J. H. Rizvi and V. Rizvi, eds.), Chapman & Hall, London, pp. 129–150.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1998 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Wink, M. (1998). Modes of Action of Alkaloids. In: Roberts, M.F., Wink, M. (eds) Alkaloids. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-2905-4_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-2905-4_12
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-3263-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-2905-4
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive