An approach on phytoalexins: function, characterization and biosynthesis in plants of the family Poaceae

• Main Authors: Rejanne Lima Arruda, Andressa Tuane Santana Paz, Maria Teresa Freitas Bara, Márcio Vinicius de Carvalho Barros Côrtes, Marta Cristina Corsi de Filippi, Edemilson Cardoso da Conceição
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria 2016-01-01
• Series: Ciência Rural
• Subjects: metabólitos; proteção de plantas; sinalização; Oryza sativa
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-84782016005007103&lng=en&tlng=en

ABSTRACT: Phytoalexins are compounds that have been studied a few years ago, which present mainly antimicrobial activity. The plants of the family Poaceae are the most geographically widespread and stand out for their economic importance, once they are cereals used as staple food. This family stands out for having a variety of phytoalexins, which can be synthesized via the shikimic acid (the phenylpropanoids), or mevalonic acid, being considered terpenoid phytoalexins. The characterization of these compounds with antimicrobial activity is carried out using chromatographic techniques, and the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with mass spectrometry are the most efficient methods in this process. This research aimed to present an approach of the function, characterization and biosynthesis of phytoalexins in plants of the family Poaceae.