Abstract
The 1,4-naphthoquinones (1,4-NQs) are a diverse group of natural products found in every kingdom of life. Plants, including many horticultural species, collectively synthesize hundreds of specialized 1,4-NQs with ecological roles in plant–plant (allelopathy), plant–insect and plant–microbe interactions. Numerous horticultural plants producing 1,4-NQs have also served as sources of traditional medicines for hundreds of years. As a result, horticultural species have been at the forefront of many basic studies conducted to understand the metabolism and function of specialized plant 1,4-NQs. Several 1,4-NQ natural products derived from horticultural plants have also emerged as promising scaffolds for developing new drugs. In this review, the current understanding of the core metabolic pathways leading to plant 1,4-NQs is provided with additional emphasis on downstream natural products originating from horticultural species. An overview on the biochemical mechanisms of action, both from an ecological and pharmacological perspective, of 1,4-NQs derived from horticultural plants is also provided. In addition, future directions for improving basic knowledge about plant 1,4-NQ metabolism are discussed.
Highlights
The 1,4-naphthoquinones (1,4-NQs) are redox active compounds structurally related to naphthalene that are comprised of a benzene moiety linearly fused with a fully conjugated cyclic diketone in which the carbonyl groups are arranged in the para orientation (Figure 1a)
This review summarizes the current knowledge on the different plant biosynthetic pathways involved in forming simple 1,4naphthalenoid rings and on the metabolism of downstream 1,4NQs derived from horticultural species
Plant 1,4-NQs are a diverse class of metabolites possessing a wide range of ecological functions contributing to plant fitness, in the horticultural species highlighted in this review (Table 1)
Summary
The 1,4-naphthoquinones (1,4-NQs) are redox active compounds structurally related to naphthalene that are comprised of a benzene moiety (ring A) linearly fused with a fully conjugated cyclic diketone (ring B) in which the carbonyl groups are arranged in the para orientation (Figure 1a).
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