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Cited by 287Insect-Plant Interactions and ControlPhytochemistry and biological activity of medicinal plantsPlant and animal studies

Emodin – a secondary metabolite with multiple ecological functions in higher plants

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Izhaki, Ido·2002·New Phytologist
DOI 10.1046/j.1469-8137.2002.00459.x
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Abstract

Summary: The anthraquinone emodin, identified in 17 plant families distributed worldwide, has numerous biological activities, some of which exhibit a wide spectrum of ecological impacts by mediating biotic or abiotic interactions of plants with their environment. Here the evidence for direct and indirect effects of emodin on plant survival and reproduction is reviewed. Emodin in vegetative organs may help protect plants against herbivores, pathogens, competitors and extrinsic abiotic factors (e.g. high light intensities). In unripe fruit pulp, emodin may facilitate seed dispersal by protecting the immature fruit against predispersal seed predation whereas in ripe pulp it may deter frugivores and thus reduce the chances that seeds will be defecated beneath the parent plant. It also accelerates the passage of seeds through the digestive tract, potentially reducing dispersal distance and increasing seed viability upon dispersal. In certain circumstances both of the last two effects could also have negative fitness consequences for plants. Natural selection should favor secondary metabolites with multiple functions because they protect the plants against a variety of unpredictable biotic and abiotic environments. Such metabolites also enhance plant defenses by using different molecular targets of specific enemies through a variety of mechanisms of action. Emodin illustrates the wide and often overlooked potential for chemical multifunctionality in plant secondary metabolites.

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Crossref · 10.1046/j.1469-8137.2002.00459.x

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  • Quinones are key secondary metabolites with vital biological functions, such as oxidative phosphorylation and electron transfer in photosynthesis and respiration processes within the plant system.

    “Quinones are key secondary metabolites with vital biological functions, such as oxidative phosphorylation and electron transfer in photosynthesis and respiration processes within the plant system [30].”

    From Natural Quinone Dyes: A Review on Structure, Extraction Techniques, Analysis and Application Potential (2021) · cites this paper as [30]

    The Introduction describes important biological roles for plant secondary metabolites, and “Emodin: chemical structure and distribution” identifies anthraquinones as a group of natural quinones. The paper does not support the attributed roles in oxidative phosphorylation or electron transfer during photosynthesis and respiration (searched those terms and related electron-transport wording). (LLM, conf=0.78)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Anthraquinones form the largest group of quinones, with around 700 compounds studied, nearly half of which are from plants alone.

    “Among the subclasses of quinones, anthraquinones form the largest group, with around 700 compounds studied.Of these nearly half are from plants alone [26], While the remainder originate from fungi, bacteria, lichens, and insects [30].”

    From Natural Quinone Dyes: A Review on Structure, Extraction Techniques, Analysis and Application Potential (2021) · cites this paper as [30]

    The “Emodin: chemical structure and distribution” section calls anthraquinones the largest group of natural quinones and says some occur in higher plants. It gives a count of more than 170 natural compounds, not around 700, and says more than half occur in fungi and lichens; it does not establish that nearly half come from plants. The indexed passage has no page number. (LLM, conf=0.89)

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Cites

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1 of the 133 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 13

  1. [4]4. Abou-Chaar CI, Shamlian SN. 1980. A chromatographic study of the anthraquinones of Rhamnus alaternus L. extraction, isolation and identification of the aglycones. Quarterly Journal of Crude Drug Research 18: 49 -55.
  2. [26]26. Choe S, Hwang B, Kim M, Oh G, Lee K, Ro J. 1998. Chemical components of Rumex acetellosa L. Korean Journal of Pharmacogology 29: 209 -216.
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  4. [55]55. Izhaki I. 1986. Seed dispersal by birds in an East Mediterranean scrubland. PhD thesis, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
  5. [66]66. Kawai K, Kato T, Mori H, Kitamura J, Nozawa Y. 1984. A comparative study on cytotoxicity and biochemical properties of anthraquinone mycotoxins modin and skyrin from Penicillium islandium. Toxicology Letters 20: 155 -160.
  6. [71]71. Koyama M, Kelly TR, Watanabe KA. 1988. Novel type of potential anticancer agents derived from chrysophanol and emodin. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 31: 283 -284.
  7. [89]89. Northup RR, Dahlgren RA, Aide TM, Zimmerman JK. 1999. Effects of plant polyphenols on nutrient cycling and implications for community structure. In: Inderjit, Dakshini KMM, Foy CL, eds. Principles and practices in plant ecology allelochemical interactions. Boca Raton, FL, USA: CRC Press, 369 -380.
  8. [93]93. Perry LM. 1980. Medicinal plants of East and Southeast Asia. Cambridge, USA: MIT Press.
  9. [104]104. Schmidt SK, Ley RE. 1999. Microbial competition and soil structure limit the expression of allelochemicals in nature. In: Inderjit, Dakshini KMM, Foy CL, eds. Principles and practices in plant ecology allelochemical interactions. Boca Raton, FL, USA: CRC Press, 339 -351.
  10. [107]107. Sherburne JA. 1972. Effect of seasonal changes in the abundance and chemistry of the fleshy fruits of northeastern woody shrubs on patterns of exploitation by frugivorous birds. PhD thesis, Faculty of the Graduated School of Cornell University, USA.
  11. [119]119. Tsahar E. 2001. The impact of the secondary metabolite emodin in Rhamnus alaternus on fruits removal and seed predation. MSc thesis, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
  12. [134]134. Wink M, Schimmer O. 1999. Modes of action of defensive secondary metabolites. In: Wink M, ed. Functions of plant secondary metabolites and their exploitation in biotechnology. Sheffield, UK: Sheffield Academic Press, 17-133.
  13. [139]139. Yuan Z, Gao R. 1997. Anti-oxidant actions of anthraquinonlines contained in Rheum. Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Letters 7: 9 -12.

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Authors
Izhaki, I.
Affiliations
University of Florida (US)
Corresponding author
Izhaki, Ido
ORCID
Izhaki, Ido
Venue
New Phytologist
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2002-07-03
Volume
155
Issue
2
Pages
205-217
ISSN
  • 0028-646X (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-8137
DOI
10.1046/j.1469-8137.2002.00459.x
OpenAlex
W2126121941
Semantic Scholar
fc404c967b67af22f7893b9ae7847d0139f9d8d6
Cited by
287
References
133
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 13
FWCI
7.30
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
New Phytologist (publishedVersion)
Funders
University of Haifa
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Insect Science › Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Phytochemistry and biological activity of medicinal plants
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Plant and animal studies
Keywords
emodin, anthraquinones, plant secondary metabolites, plant defense, herbivore deterrence, pathogen resistance, competition (biology), abiotic stress, pre-dispersal seed predation, seed dispersal, seed viability, plant fitness, natural selection

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