Sesquiterpene lactone

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Structures of some sesquiterpene lactones:
A: Germacranolides, B: Heliangolides, C+D: Guaianolides, E: Pseudoguaianolides, F: Hypocretenolides, G: Eudesmanolides.

Sesquiterpene lactones are a class of chemical found in many plants that can cause allergic reactions. Some plants containing these compounds are:

• Chrysanthemum
• Pyrethrum
• Ragweed
• Sneezeweed
• Sagebrush
• Wormwood
• Mugwort
• Boneset
• Poverty weed
• Marsh elder
• Cocklebur
• Burdock
• Chamomile
• Artichoke
• Gailladrin
• Parthenium
• Sunflower
• Lettuce
• Spinach

Artemesinin, a new, highly-effective anti-malarial compound, is a sesquiterpene lactone found in Chinese wormwood. Lactucin, desoxylactucin, lactucopicrin, lactucin-15-oxalaat, lactucopicrin-15-oxalaat are some of the most prominent and well determinable sesquiterpene lactones found e.g. in lettuce and spinach, giving most of the bitter taste in these crops.

[edit] Referenced

This article does not cite any references or sources. (January 2008) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

This organic chemistry article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.