Guaianolides for Multipurpose Molecular Design. In: Beck JJ, Coats JR, Duke SO, Koivunen ME, editors. Pest Management with Natural Products. Washington: American Chemical Society; 2013. pp. 167-88. [DOI: 10.1021/bk-2013-1141.ch012]

Ecological Relevance of the Major Allelochemicals in Lycopersicon esculentum Roots and Exudates

Stigmasterol, bergapten, and α-tomatine were isolated from tomato roots. The preliminary phytotoxic activities of stigmasterol and α-tomatine were evaluated in a wheat-coleoptile bioassay, and α-tomatine was more active than stigmasterol. To confirm its phytotoxic activity, α-tomatine was tested on Lactuca sativa and two weeds ( Lolium perenne and Echinochloa crus-galli), and it was active in all cases. The stimulatory activities of α-tomatine and stigmasterol on parasitic-plant germination were also evaluated, and α-tomatine was found to be active on Phelipanche ramosa, a parasitic plant of tomato. α-Tomatine was identified in root exudates by LC-MS/MS. This confirms that α-tomatine is exuded by roots into the environment, where it could act as both an allelochemical and a stimulator of P. ramosa, a parasitic plant of tomato.

Pseudoguaianolides: Recent Advances in Synthesis and Applications

Pseudoguaianolides belong to the class of sesquiterpene lactones and are characterized by the lactone ring cis or trans-anellated (in 6,7- or 7,8- position) to fused seven- and five-membered rings; they differ from guaianolides for the position of the methyl group in 5. The unusual tricyclic fused core 5/7/5 was a challenge and inspired new synthetic methodologies to install substituents with proper stereochemistry. Despite their potential of application in different fields, their exploitation is so far very limited. Because of this, with this review we wanted to give perspectives in terms of availability and resupply of the most active compounds of the class.

Asymmetric total synthesis of hedyosumin E aglycon, 7,10-epoxyhedyosminolide and ent-zedolactone A

The asymmetric total syntheses of hedyosumin E aglycon, 7,10-epoxyhedyosminolide and ent-zedolactone A were realized, with the first two being achieved for the first time.

Phytotoxic Terpenes Produced by Phytopathogenic Fungi and Allelopathic Plants

This review is about the isolation as well as chemical and biological characterization of simple and complex mono-, sesqui-, di-, sester- and tri-terpenes produced by fungal pathogens of agrarian and forest plants and by some allelopathic plants. In several cases, the structure activity relationships are also discussed, as well as their potential application in agriculture as natural safe herbicides, fungicides and bactericides. Furthermore, the potential application of some fungal terpenes as anticancer compounds with a new mode of action is also discussed.