Flavonoids, xanthines and terpenoids

Theophilline is also a minor constituent of tea, but is prepared by direct chemical synthesis for medical use. It functions to relax smooth muscle and, therefore, can be used as a bronchodilator in the treatment of asthma and bronchitis. Aminophylline is a derivative of theophilline (theophylline ethylenediamine), which is often used in place of theophilline due to its greater aqueous solubility. 

An alternative route of taxol production under investigation entails the use of plant cell culture techniques. Plant cell culture is considered to be an economically viable production route for plant-derived drugs, if the drug commands a market value in excess of 1000 2000/kg. While many commonly used plant-derived metabolites fall into this category, plant cell culture has not 

Coumarins are also synthesized by a variety of plant species. Medically, the most significant coumarins are dicoumarol and its derivative, warfarin. Dicoumarol was initially discovered as the active substance in mouldy sweet clover hay, which could induce haemorrhagic disease in cattle. Dicoumarol and warfarin are now used clinically as anticoagulants, as discussed in Chapter 9. 

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Figure 1.12. Some flavonoids, xanthines and terpenoids. Chrysoplenol B and axillarin are two flavonoids exhibiting anti-viral activity against Rhinovirus (causative agent of the common cold). Examples of xanthines include caffeine and theophylline. Terpenes are polymers of the 5-carbon compound isoprene. Perhaps the best-known such substance discovered in recent years is the diterpenoid taxol, which is used as an anti-tumour agent...

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