Associations of amino acids and related compounds in the seeds of forty-seven species of Vicia: their taxonomic and nutritional significance

Abstract

The distribution of the free amino acids and related compounds that occur in the seeds of Lathyrus has been described previously (Bell, 1962a(Bell, , 1964a were found in varying amounts in all the seeds, the 11 compounds that occurred in highest concentration and formed the characteristic associations were not 'protein' amino acids. One of them was P-(y-glutamylamino)propionitrile (Schilling & Strong, 1954), a second was lathyrine (Bell, 1961), an amino acid of unknown structure, and a third was a new natural amino acid, tentatively identified from Rp values as homoarginine. The remaining eight compounds were unidentified.High concentrations (frequently more than 1% of the dry weight) of one or more of these compounds were found in the seeds of all but four of the species examined, and it was suggested that 'the most likely explanation of the associations found in the various groups is that the compounds con-104

Anti-herbivory defense of two Vicia species with and without extrafloral nectaries

“…For example, V. hirsuta contains a specific hemiterpene glucoside that works on a chemical barrier against a bean aphid, Megoura crassicauda (Ohta et al 2006). Vicia plants have several neurotoxic amino acids (Bell and Tirimanna 1965). However, the chemical substances that create the difference in herbivore community between V. sativa and V. hirsuta have not been well explored.…”

Isolation and identification of two potent neurotoxins, aspartic acid and glutamic acid, from yellow star thistle (Centaurea solstitialis)

“…Routine examination of plant extracts by chromatographic methods usually reveals 15-16 of the 20 common protein amino acids [Fowden, 19701. The concentration of an amino acid in a particular species may vary with environment, with the stage of the plant's development, and from organ to organ in the same plant [Bell and Tirimanna, 1965; Williams and Hunt, 1967;Przybylska and Rymowicz, 19651. Because of these variations, the significance of concentration differences may be very difficult to interpret unless elaborate precautions to ensure uniform conditions of growth are maintained.…”

Pflanzliche Sekundärstoffe: Ethnobotanische Überlegungen zu ihrer Bedeutung für die menschliche Ernährung und die Medizin - Teil 2: Bedeutung der Sekundärstoffe bei der Domestikation der Nahrungspflanzen

“…Typisch ist ein Gangbild, bei dem die Betroffenen faktisch von einem Bein aufs andere fallen. Störungen der Tiefensensibilität und der Blasen- und Darmfunktion treten hinzu, ein grobschlägiger Tremor kann auftreten [30]. …”