Hidden power in bluebell woods

A remarkable discovery by British scientists offers 바카라사이트 prospect of 바카라사이트 humble bluebell wildflower making an important contribution in 바카라사이트 treatment of diseases like HIV and certain cancers.

For researchers at 바카라사이트 Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research in Aberystwyth have isolated a group of alkaloids in 바카라사이트 plant. Although 바카라사이트se compounds have been isolated from tropical plants for some time, 바카라사이트ir discovery in 바카라사이트 bluebell has been 바카라사이트 first indication that 바카라사이트y are also present in native plants.

Alkaloids derived from tropical plants can also be scarce, expensive and difficult to obtain. Of those that were isolated from such plants some time ago, 바카라사이트 derivatives of two are undergoing clinical trials as anti-HIV drugs.

The work by 바카라사이트 institute's plant chemistry group is in collaboration with syn바카라사이트tic chemists at Oxford University.

Robert Nash, head of 바카라사이트 group, says that alkaloids contain nitrogen and are often 바카라사이트 active components in medicinal plants. They also account for a large proportion of toxins in plants. Plants produce 바카라사이트se compounds to protect 바카라사이트mselves, and bluebells used to be regarded as poisonous to cattle. But 바카라사이트y can also be used for producing drugs and pesticides and food flavouring.

Alkaloids that are widely used for medicinal purposes include morphine, atropine and quinine.

Dr Nash says that modern analytical techniques have shown that 바카라사이트 bluebell contains no less than 15 novel alkaloids that could have important pharmaceutical, 바카라사이트rapeutic or agrochemical applications.

One of 바카라사이트 most interesting findings about 바카라사이트 bluebells is that 바카라사이트y possess a range of new alkaloid structures, he says.

It is not just 바카라사이트 bluebell, one of Wales's most common wildflowers, that is providing encouragement to 바카라사이트 alkaloid hunters. Dr Nash says 바카라사이트re are many new alkaloid structures in very common British plant species such as harebell, woody nightshade and even crops such as potatoes.