Biological activities of sesquiterpene lactones

Picman, Anna K.

doi:10.1016/0305-1978(86)90101-8

Cited by 517 publications

(388 citation statements)

References 206 publications

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“…For instance, plant-derived alkaloids, terpenes and phenolics have antiparasitic and antimicrobial properties (19)(20)(21)(22) and sesquiterpene lactones have antiamoebic, antibacterial and antifungal actions (23)(24)(25) . Since the pioneering work of Niezen et al (26) in New Zealand with tannin-containing legumes, it is known that condensed tannins have anthelmintic properties, mainly through: (1) lower establishment of the infective third-stage larvae (L3) in the host, (2) lower excretion of eggs by adult worms and (3) impaired development of eggs into L3 (27) .…”

Section: Proceedings Of the Nutrition Societymentioning

confidence: 99%

Phytochemicals in animal health: diet selection and trade-offs between costs and benefits

2016

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Many plant tissues contain plant secondary compounds (PSC), which have long been recognised as defensive chemicals that deter herbivory via their toxic effects. However, herbivores may also benefit from including PSC into their diets. Plant-derived phenolics, terpenes and alkaloids have antiparasitic properties and sesquiterpene lactones have antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitic properties. These actions are in part a consequence of the negative actions that PSC exert across several trophic levels, including the bacteria, parasites and fungi that inhabit herbivores' bodies. Given the dual action, toxin and medicine, it is possible to hypothesise that self-selection of PSC by herbivores should occur when the benefits outweigh the costs of PSC ingestion. Recent research suggests that sheep and goats self-medicate against parasitic infections. They increase preference for condensed tannin-containing foods when experiencing a parasitic burden. This behaviour improves health; it is triggered by parasitism and weakens when parasitism subsides. However, the causes underlying these responses are not straightforward when viewed under a unidimensional cost-benefit analysis. This is because the intensity of antinutritional/toxic and medicinal effects of PSC is not static or just dependent upon the isolated post-ingestive effects of single PSC. Nutrient-PSC and PSC-PSC interactions, social models, as well as feeding patterns, all influence the perceived net benefit of incorporating medicines into a diet. A better understanding of the net benefit of self-medication in complex feeding environments will allow for the development of innovative managing strategies aimed at providing the food alternatives and conditions for improving the nutrition, health and welfare of grazing animals.

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Section: Proceedings Of the Nutrition Societymentioning

confidence: 99%

Phytochemicals in animal health: diet selection and trade-offs between costs and benefits

2016

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“…Plant-derived alkaloids, terpenes and phenolics have antiparasitic properties (Kayser et al, 2003;Hocquemiller et al, 1991) and sesquiterpene lactones have antitumorigenic, anti-amoebic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and cardiotonic properties (Picman, 1986;Robles et al, 1995;Huffman et al, 1998). Thus, PSMs at appropriate doses have the potential to benefit herbivores in ways that may be more consequential than their negative effects.…”

Section: Self-medication and Plant Secondary Metabolitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-medication and homeostatic behaviour in herbivores: learning about the benefits of nature’s pharmacy

Villalba

Provenza

2007

Animal

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Traditional production systems have viewed animals as homogeneous 'machines' whose nutritional and medicinal needs must be provided in a prescribed manner. This view arose from the lack of belief in the wisdom of the body to meet its physiological needs. Is it possible for herbivores to select diets that meet their needs for nutrients and to write their own prescriptions? Our research suggests it is. Herbivores adapt to the variability of the external environment and to their changing internal needs not only by generating homeostatic physiological responses, but also by operating in the external environment. Under this view, food selection is interpreted as the quest for substances in the external environment that provide homeostatic utility to the internal environment. Most natural landscapes are diverse mixes of plant species that are literally nutrition centres and pharmacies with vast arrays of primary (nutrient) and secondary (pharmaceutical) compounds vital in the nutrition and health of plants and herbivores. Plant-derived alkaloids, terpenes, sesquiterpene lactones and phenolics can benefit herbivores by, for instance, combating internal parasites, controlling populations of fungi and bacteria, and enhancing nutrition. Regrettably, the simplification of agricultural systems to accommodate inexpensive, rapid livestock production, coupled with a view of secondary compounds as toxins, has resulted in selecting for a biochemical balance in forages favouring primary (mainly energy) and nearly eliminating secondary compounds. There is a global need to create a more sustainable agriculture, with less dependence on external finite resources, such as fossil fuels and their environmentally detrimental derivatives. Self-medication has the potential to facilitate the design of sustainable grazing systems to improve the quality of land as well as the health and welfare of animals. Understanding foraging as the dynamic quest to achieve homeostasis will lead to implementing management programs where herbivores have access not only to diverse and nutritious foods but also to arrays of medicinal plants.

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“…Suppression of c-Myb-induced gene activation might therefore be a valuable therapeutic strategy. 2 Here, we have investigated the potential of sesquiterpene lactones (STLs), a class of natural products that possess a variety of biological activities and have been identified as active constituents of various medicinal plants, [20][21][22] to inhibit the activation of Myb-inducible genes. We have generated a fluorescence-based cell system that allows screening of STLs and other compounds for their ability to suppress the activation of a Myb-inducible reporter gene.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inhibition of Myb-dependent gene expression by the sesquiterpene lactone mexicanin-I

et al. 2011

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Biological activities of sesquiterpene lactones

Cited by 517 publications

References 206 publications

Phytochemicals in animal health: diet selection and trade-offs between costs and benefits

Phytochemicals in animal health: diet selection and trade-offs between costs and benefits

Self-medication and homeostatic behaviour in herbivores: learning about the benefits of nature’s pharmacy

Inhibition of Myb-dependent gene expression by the sesquiterpene lactone mexicanin-I

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