Two Plant Species 'Invent' the Same Chemically Complex and Medically Interesting Substance

Two plant species invent the same chemically complex and medically interesting substance

The biosynthesis of the great variety of natural plant products has not yet been elucidated for many medically interesting substances. In a new study, an international team of researchers was able to show how ipecacuanha alkaloids, substances used in traditional medicine, are synthesized. They compared two distantly related plant species and were able to show that although both plant species use a comparable chemical approach, the enzymes they n…

Two plant species 'invent' the same chemically complex and medically interesting substance

Plants produce an enormous abundance of natural products. Many natural plant products are ancestry-specific and occur only in certain plant families, sometimes only in a single species. Interestingly, however, the same substances can sometimes be found in distantly related species.

Two Plant Species Independently Produce the Same Complex and Medically

In the vast botanical world, plants have evolved an extraordinary arsenal of natural products essential for their survival, defense, and intricate ecological interactions. Among these compounds, alkaloids stand out due to their complex structures and potent biological activities, often finding vital roles in medicine. Intriguingly, some alkaloids appear in plant species that are evolutionarily distant, raising profound questions about their bios…