Animal chemicals benefiting plants

Saliva and especially urine contain epidermal growth factor, a small protein, which may be very important to stimulate plant growth (Dyer, 1980). Epidermal growth factor from mouse urine stimulates growth in sorghum seedlings and the effect is proportional to the amount used. 

Chemicals mediating relationships where both partners benefit are termed synomones. 

FIGURE 12.6 Synomones attracting anemone fish to its sea anemone partner. Amphikuemin attracts the anemone fish Amphiprionperideraion to its sea anemone partner Radianthus kuekenthali. lyramine and tryptamine attract the anemone fish Amphiprion ocellaris to its anemone partner Stoichactis kenti. 

The relationship between anemone fish, Amphiprion sp., and their sea anemone partners are regulated by alkaloids from the sea anemone. Amphiprion perideraion is attracted to the sea anemone Radianthus kuekenthali by the simple lysine-derived alkaloid amphikuemin (Fig. 12.6 Murata etal, 1986). Other simple alkaloids, aplysinopsin and dihydroaplysinopsin, also attract A. perideraion, regulate its swimming rate and induce their species-specific partnership. A related anemone fish, Amphiprion ocellaris, is attracted to the sea anemone Stoichactis kenti by tyramine (Fig. 12.6) and tryptamine induces searching by the fish (Murata etal, 1986). 

Fruit flavor, consumption and seed dispersal by birds 

---

One of the most obvious benefits of plants is the potential for production scale up, leading to the production of virtually limitless amounts of recombinant antibody at minimal cost Plants are easy to grow, and unlike bacteria or animal cells their cultivation is straightforward and does not require specialist media, equipment or toxic chemicals. It has been estimated that plantibodies could be produced at a yield of 10-20 kg per acre at a fraction of the cost associated with production in mammalian cells [2,18] The use of plants also avoids many of the potential safety issues associated with other expression systems, such as contaminating mammalian viruses or prions, as well as ethical considerations involving the use of animals. 

Allomones are interspecific semiochemicals that primarily benefit the sender. Animals as well as plants defend themselves chemically against predators. Myriads of ways to deter predation have evolved. Many chemicals have more than one function, being aimed not only at predators but also at parasites, prey, or conspecific competitors. As common denominator of allomones we assume that the inclusive fitness of the sender - rather than the receiver - is enhanced. Chapter 10 deals with defenses by animals, and Chapter 11 with plant defenses against herbivores. 

The medical use of botanicals in their natural and unprocessed form undoubtedly began when the first intelligent animals noticed that certain food plants altered particular body functions. Much information exists about the historical use and effectiveness of botanical products. Unfortunately, the quality of this information is extremely variable. One of the most complete compendiums of clinical recommendations regarding the use of botanicals is the Report of the German Commission E (a committee that sets standards for herbal medications in that country Blumenthal, 2000). Interest in the endocrine effects and possible nutritional benefits of certain purified chemicals such as dehydroepiandrosterone. melatonin, high-dose vitamins, and minerals has led to a parallel development of consumer demand for such substances. These substances, together with the botanicals, constitute a substantial source of profits for those who exploit the concept of "alternative medicine."... 

Janzen (1978) had noted that Indian tigers, wild dogs, civets, bears, and jackals feed on species (Carea arborea, Dalbergia latifolia), which helps in the elimination of their intestinal parasites. In the present study, plant parts used by both humans and animals, it may be quite likely that by ingesting similar plant parts, animals may be benefiting from similar therapeutic value as the humans. Nevertheless, without any chemical constituent analysis it is difficult to draw any further conclusion about whether the overlap in plant parts used by humans and animals were for similar ailments or just as a diet. But, this information will provide a baseline for detail future study in such aspects. 

Saponins constitute an important class of secondary metabolites from plant and animal domains (1-3). They display a broad spectrum of biological activities that have raised the interest of phytochemists for the past forty years. With molecular weights ranging from 600 to 2000 Daltons, their structures are complex. It was only in the seventies that, with the use of chemical degradation techniques, their precise structures were established (4-5). Since then, the field has benefitted from the recent progress in instrumentation. The purpose of this article is to describe the current techniques in use for the structural elucidation of saponins. 

---