August phytochemicals - bioactive compounds from kava root!

Happy #PhytochemicalFriday.. uh - Saturday! Today: triptolide, a toxic terpenoid (defense compound?) from the thunder god vine Tripterygium wilfordii, whose structural analog minnelide is in Phase II clinical trials as a trtmnt for pancreatic cancer. Amazing 3x epoxide structure!

Happy #PhytochemicalFriday! Today: kavain, an ethnomedicine from the roots of the kava plant (Piper methysticum) that has anxiety-reducing effects. Incredible new work from @tomas_pluskal uncovers the biosynthesis of kavain (and many other molecules), featured in @NaturePlants.

#PhytochemicalFriday! This week, another compound from the thunder god vine (Tripterygium wilfordii) - celastrol - for which the first biosynthetic step has recently been discovered. It is being investigated for a variety of potential anti-cancer/obesity/inflammatory effects.

Happy #PhytochemicalFriday from #CASFutureLeaders @CASChemistry in Columbus, OH! Today: azadirachtin, a complex terpenoid from the neem tree (Azadirachta indica, meliaceae) that is toxic to insects (protects the tree), but is also used in a wide variety of commercial insecticides.

#PhytochemicalFriday! Today: dicoumarol - a compound of combined plant and fungal origin originally discovered in 1940 by studying spoiled sweet clover hay that caused uncontrollable and fatal hemorrhaging in livestock. It has since inspired synthetic anticoagulant rodenticides.