Chair of Forest Zoology and Entomology, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg i.Br. Chair of Forest Zoology and Entomology
Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg i.Br.

Chair of Forest Zoology and Entomology
Albert-Ludwigs-Universität
Freiburg i.Br.
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Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs)

Insect-PAs and
PA-derived courtship pheromones

 

PAs as
defensive chemicals

PAs as morphogens

Occurrence and intra-individual distribution of
PAs in plants

 

Health risks

PAs for management of nematodes


Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) represent a large group of ester alkaloids with great structural diversity. They consist of a necine alcohol and a necic acid which make open-chained mono- or diesters or macrocyclic diesters. Protoxic 1,2-dehydropyrrolizidines are metabolized to toxic pyrroles. About 400 structures have been identified mainly from plants belonging to Asteraceae (Eupatorieae, Senecioneae), Boraginaceae, Apocynaceae and Fabaceae. In general, a given plant produces several PAs.