Encyclopaedia of the Terpenoids
Encyclopaedia of the Terpenoids
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萜类化合物百科全书
DOI：
10.1042/bst0110469
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发表时间：
1983
影响因子：
3.9
通讯作者：
T. Goodwin
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
T. Goodwin
这本令人生畏的约2500页的汇编引用了按字母顺序列出的约10000种萜类化合物的性质，从abbeokutone（一种来自Didymosalpinx abbeokutae树皮的二萜）到zuurbergenin（一种来自Metricaria zuurbergensis的倍半萜成分）。物理性质、结构式、主要天然来源和关键参考文献都有明确的说明。此外，还列出了关键衍生物，并在适当情况下列出了任何生物活性。文学作品于1979年结束。有一个有效的分子式索引（120页）和一个简短但有用的“分类索引”，其中将化合物分组在标题下，表明其生物学，毒理学或药理学特性;这些标题的例子是苦味成分，细胞毒性化合物，piscidial化合物。毫无疑问，这本百科全书对有机化学家来说是有价值的，因为它显然是针对有机化学家的，但它对对萜类化合物感兴趣的生物化学家有什么价值呢？一个快速浏览清楚地表明，除了下面提到的一两个例外，所有生物化学上重要的萜类都包括在内。人们只能批判性地评价那些人们相当熟悉的群体。类胡萝卜素，例如，是全面涵盖，虽然有一些错误的说法，当紫红蛋白，这是由酸和氧的作用产生的海葵色素，海葵色素，被描述为来自紫罗兰花！对番茄红素的引用在给出正确结构方面是值得称赞的最新的，它仅在1979年发表，但文献引用在1972年结束。也有一些结构性错误，在第一版中不可避免，但有时令人困惑。同样，具体姓名和作者姓名的拼写错误也相当频繁。然后我们来到类固醇，这是缺席。对生物化学家来说，类固醇是萜类化合物，关于这些化合物的一节会引起他们的极大兴趣。很明显，Dr. Alberby已经接受了有机化学家的普遍观点，即类固醇不是萜类化合物。如果在序言中解释省略的原因，那将是很有帮助的，顺便说一下，这是我很长一段时间以来遇到的最短的（七行）。人们只能猜测，也许原因是类固醇不保留基本类异戊二烯骨架的所有30个碳原子，尽管它们是从这样的化合物生物合成衍生的。如果这是原因，那么我们必须进一步寻找另一种生物学上重要的萜类化合物聚戊烯醇的缺失的解释，聚戊烯醇肯定是具有整数个异戊二烯残基的化合物。与这些相关的是异戊二烯基醌，如泛醌和质体醌，如果包括皂苷类，如ladyginoside F-一种具有八个葡萄糖残基的三萜类化合物，则应将其列为条目。无论从自己的角度来看，人们可以指出哪些不足之处，这是不可避免的，因为这样一个广泛的汇编，有很多值得赞扬的地方，人们只能敬畏地站在博士面前。所有的化学家都应该感谢他的努力。在这些困难的日子里，大学和机构图书馆员为他们是否能负担得起这本百科全书而苦恼，肯定会收到来自有机化学系的强有力的案例。生物化学家自己很难为购买它提出有力的理由。
This formidable compilation of some 2500 pages cites the properties of some loo00 terpenoids listed in alphabetical order, ranging from abbeokutone, a diterpene from the bark of Didymosalpinx abbeokutae, to zuurbergenin, a sesquiterpene constituent of Metricaria zuurbergensis. The physical properties, structural formulae, major natural source and key references are all clearly laid out. In addition, key derivatives are listed and, where appropriate, any biological activity. The literature coverage ends in 1979. There is an effective molecular-formula index (120 pages) and a short but useful ‘classification index’in which compounds are grouped under heads indicating their biological, toxicological or pharmacological properties; examples of such headings are bitter principles, cytotoxic compounds, piscidial compounds. There is no doubt that the encyclopaedia will be of value to organic chemists, to whom it is clearly directed, but what of its value to biochemists interested in terpenoids? A quick overlook makes it clear that, with one or two exceptions, mentioned below, all biochemically important terpenoids are covered. One can only critically assess those groups with which one is reasonably well acquainted. The carotenoids, for example, are comprehensively covered, although there are some misstatements as when violerythrin, which is produced by the action of acid and oxygen on actinioerythrin, a pigment from sea anemones, is described as coming from Viola flowers! The citation on prolycopene is commendably up-to-date in giving the correct structure, which was only published in 1979, but the literature citations end at 1972. There are also a number of structural errors, inevitable in a first edition, but which are sometimes confusing. Similarly mis-spellings of specific names and authors’ names are rather frequent. Then we come to steroids, which are absent. To biochemists, steroids are terpenoids and a section on these compounds would have been of major interest. Clearly Dr. Glasby has taken the general view of organic chemists that steroids are not terpenoids. It would have been helpful to have had the reason for the omission explained in the preface, which incidentally is the shortest (seven lines) I have come across for a long time. One can only guess that perhaps the reason is that steroids do not retain all the 30 carbon atoms of the basic isoprenoid skeleton, although they are biosynthetically derived from such a compound. If this is the reason, then we have to seek further for an explanation for the absence of another biologically important group of terpenoids, the polyprenols-they certainly are compounds with an integral number of isoprene residues. Associated with these are the prenyl quinones such as ubiquinone and plastoquinone, which should rate entries if saponigens, such as ladyginoside F-a triterpenoid with eight glucose residues- are included. Whatever the deficiencies one can point out from one’s own point of view, and this is inevitable with such a wide ranging compilation, there is much to commend, and one can only stand in awe in the face of Dr. Glasby’s monumental industry. All chemists should be grateful to him for his efforts. In these difficult days, University and Institutional Librarians agonizing over whether they can afford this Encyclopaedia will certainly receive strong cases from departments of Organic Chemistry. It would be rather difficult for Biochemists themselves to make a strong case for its purchase.