Phytoalexins and other natural products as factors in plant disease resistance

Host-pathogen interactions in plants. Plants, when exposed to oligosaccharides of fungal origin, defend themselves by accumulating antibiotics.

“…Phytoalexins are probably also toxic to higher animal and plant cells (38). The production of phytoalexins appears to be a widespread mechanism by which plants attempt to defend themselves against microbes and, perhaps, against other pests (6,16,17,28,32,36,37,38,63). Molecules of microbial origin which trigger phytoalexin accumulation in plants have been called elicitors (33).…”

State of the Art and Future Prospects of Alternative Control Means Against Postharvest Blue Mould of Apple: Exploiting the Induction of Resistance

“…They are also thought to improve human health and this effect seems related, at least partially, to their antioxidant effect (Nijveldt et al, 2001). Ingham et al (1972) have reviewed the role of flavonoid phytoalexins and other natural products as factors in plant disease resistance. Among these compounds, quercetin was considered the most prominent (Bock, 2003).…”

Chemosystematics and coevolution

“…Thus, the Leguminosae in general prcduce isoflavonoids, the Solanaceae diterpenoids, the Compositae polyacetylenes and so on (Fig. 1); anomalies are rare, for example, the furanoacetylene wyerone acid from Vicia faba (Leguminosae) (50). As lesser variations also occur within these families, there 1s the clear possibility of using phytoalexin induction as a tool in taxonomic studies.…”