Abstract
2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol or 2,4-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-phenol (2,4-DTBP) is a common toxic secondary metabolite produced by various groups of organisms. The biosources and bioactivities of 2,4-DTBP have been well investigated, but the phenol has not been systematically reviewed. This article provides a comprehensive review of 2,4-DTBP and its analogs with emphasis on natural sources and bioactivities. 2,4-DTBP has been found in at least 169 species of bacteria (16 species, 10 families), fungi (11 species, eight families), diatom (one species, one family), liverwort (one species, one family), pteridiphyta (two species, two families), gymnosperms (four species, one family), dicots (107 species, 58 families), monocots (22 species, eight families), and animals (five species, five families). 2,4-DTBP is often a major component of violate or essential oils and it exhibits potent toxicity against almost all testing organisms, including the producers; however, it is not clear why organisms produce autotoxic 2,4-DTBP and its analogs. The accumulating evidence indicates that the endocidal regulation seems to be the primary function of the phenols in the producing organisms.
Highlights
College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Shenyang University, Shenyang 110044, Liaoning, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, Liaoning, China
A basic question has never been addressed: why does an organism produces autotoxic 2,4-DTBP? This review has summarized the available references in both English and Chinese to date
The analysis reported that 2,4-DTBP is a major component in the water extracts of fresh needles of
Summary
2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol or 2,4-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-phenol (2,4-DTBP) is a common natural product that exhibits potent toxicity against almost all testing organisms, including the producing species. The phenol has been well investigated in terms of its natural sources and bioactivities, but it has not been systematically reviewed. A basic question has never been addressed: why does an organism produces autotoxic 2,4-DTBP? This review has summarized the available references in both English and Chinese to date. It will provide some basic information to better understand the physiological and evolutionary roles of 2,4-DTBP in the producing organisms
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