Secondary compounds of the Ranunculiflorae

Abstract

Natural products can provide additional arguments for the relationships within families of the Ranunculiflorae, although parallel evolution and loss of chemical characters probably occurred frequently. Especially the accumulation of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids is a characteristic feature, however, in Ranunculaceae restricted to Coptideae and Isopyreae; they are common in the Berberidaceae, but missing in Podophyllum and Diphylleia and probably other Berberideae. Quinolizidine alkaloids are typical products of the Cimicifugeae (Ranunculaceae) and Leonticeae (Berberidaceae). The Delphiniinae (Ranunculaceae) are characterized by diterpene alkaloids and the accumulation of mannitol. Cyanogenic compounds occur in Isopyreae (Ranunculaceae), but they are observed elsewhere in the Ranunculiflorae. Ranunculins are present only in the Ranunculeae and Anemoneae and additionally in HeIleborus (all Ranunculaceae). Lignans are accumulated in the closely related Podophyllum and Diphylleia, but also in Epimedium (all Berberidaceae). For the Fumariaceae the free amino acid acetylornithine is suspected to be the main nitrogen transport molecule.