Fabaceae coumarins

Coumarins occur abundantly in various plant families, e.g. Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, Moraceae, Poaceae, Rutaceae and Sola-naceae. However, the Apiaceae alt. Umbelliferae) and the Rutaceae are the two most important coumarin-producing plant families. 

Dicoumarol (= Dicumarol Dicumol Dicoumarin Dufalone Melitoxin) (coumarin) Melilotus sp. (Fabaceae), Anthoxanthum sp. (Poaceae) (from 4-Hydroxycoumarin in decomposing hay) Anticoagulant by inhibiting Vitamin K-dependent protein glutamate carboxylation thence [3, 101- 103]... 

Coumestans are benzofuranocoumarins. Coumestrol (Phe C50L furan Phe coumarin ] furan Phe) is a phytoalexin in Glycine max and Phaseolus species (Fabaceae). Coumestrol is also oestrogenic as is the pyranocoumestan phytoalexin sojagol (coumarin furan Phe C50) from Glycine max. 

Glycycoumarin (prenylated coumarin) Glycyrrhiza uralensis (liquorice) [root, rhizome] (Fabaceae) cAMP PDE (7)... 

Di-0-methyl- scandenin (coumarin) Derns scandens (Fabaceae) [stem] PKA (50)... 

Esculetin (= 6,7-Dihydroxycoumarin Aesculetin Cichorigenin Esculetol) (coumarin) Euphorbia lathyrism (Euphorbiaceae) [seed], Arachis hypogaea (Fabaceae), Aesculus turbinate (Hippocastanaceae) [wood], Fraxinus spp. (Oleaceae) [bark] LOX [antibacterial, antifungal]... 

Fraxidin (coumarin) 7eramnus labialis (Fabaceae) [aerial] HypoGlc (DB db/db mice)... 

The simple coumarin nucleus (Fig 7.3), which is derived by lactone formation of an ortho-hydroxy-czs cinnamic acid, is a common metabolite in higher plants and is often found in glycosidic form. Coumarins are common in Api-aceae, in certain genera of Fabaceae (e.g. Dipteryx odorata, Melilotus officinalis), Poaceae (e.g. Anthoxanthum odoratum) and Rubiaceae (e.g. Galium odoratum). However, proliferation of coumarins to the status of major chemical markers occurs in only a few cases, most notably, but not exclusively, in the Api-aceae (subfamily Apioideae) and in the Rutaceae (Gray and Waterman, 1978 Murray et al., 1982). In these cases, the coumarin nucleus has almost invariably been embellished by the addition of a prenyl unit leading to furocoumarin (Fig 7.3) and pyranocoumarin structures. 

Umbelliferone is one of about 1000 coumarins isolated from plants, primarily the families of Angiosperms Fabaceae,... 

Coumarin (1), first isolated from Dipteryx (Coumarouna) odorata (tonka bean, Fabaceae) and a component of a number of spices and herbs, is found in essential oils from many plants. Coumarin from plant sources is still used to a certain extent as a flavoring, but most coumarin comes from synthetic sources. The use of synthetic coumarin as a flavoring in food products is restricted in the United States. 

Coumestans, such as (88), which possess a coumarin strac-ture, are derivatives of isoflavones (Fig. 11.28) most of the 31 known compounds of this stmctural type are restricted to the Fabaceae (Dewick, 1982,1988 Williams and Harbome, 1989b). Study of the biosynthesis of coumestans has been accomplished because elicitors stimulate synthesis of these compounds in plant cell cultures (Grisebach, 1985). The only known coumestan glycoside occurs in Eclipta alba (Asteraceae). 

The distribution of coumarins is widespread. Originally isolated from tonka beans, they are abundant in particular plant families, for example Rubiaceae—Asperula Poaceae—Avena Fabaceae—Medic-ago, Melilotus Rutaceae—Ruta, Citrus spp., Murraya Apiaceae— Angelica, Ammi. 

Origin of Some Central Trivial Names. Some names were chosen according to the discovery of the corresponding compounds such as cinnamic acid [Cinnamomum verum Presl., cinnamon tree (Lauraceae)], coumaric acids/ coumarin [Dipterix odorata (Aubl.) Wu-ld. sub nom. Coumarouna odorata Aubl. (Fabaceae)], caf-feic acid [Coffea arabica L., coffee tree (Rubiaceae)], and ferulic add (Ferula spp., Apiaceae). Quinic acid is named according to its discovery as a constituent of cinchona bark [Cinchona L. spp. (Rubiaceae)] this compound was named according to the German Chinarinde (cinchona bark) - corrupted from quina (Spanish... 

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