Expression of Secondary Metabolism in Cultured Plant Cells.

The research program includes projects relating the biosynthesis, chemistry and phytochemistry of natural products derived from tropical plants. Specific research projects deal with (1) Induction of the essential oil production typical of the adult wild plant in the in vitro culture of Lippia dulcis, Trev. (Verbenaceae); (2) Isolation and antilithic action of catechol derivatives from Lepianthes peltatum, Raf. and L. umbellatum, Raf. (Piperaceae); (3) Induction of biosynthetic capabilities in the root cultures of Rubia tinctorum (Rubiaceae) for the production of anthraquinone dye derivatives (ruberythric acid and rubiadin, purpurin and lucidin primeverosides); (4) Photophysics and photochemistry of the alkaloids papaverine N-oxide and derivatives. Available facilities include a plant cell and tissue culture laboratory, a nearby wet chemistry laboratory which communicates with a spectroscopy and chromatography laboratory and a fluorescence laboratory.

 

Representative Publications:

Photochemistry and Photophysics of Papaverine N-Oxide,” published in Photochemistry and Photobiology, 1999, 70, 875-881. Specialist Periodical Report on Photochemistry, Royal Society of Chemistry, 2001.

"Terpenoid Composition of Lippia dulcis," Phytochemistry, 1997, 44,1077-1086.

"Hernandulcin is the Mayor Constituent of Lippia dulcis Trev. (Verbenaceae)," Natural Product Letters, 1996, 8, 151-158.

Laboratory Facilities

Plant Cell Tissue Culture

HPLC Instrumentation