Eucalyptus subgenus Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) trees are abundant sources of medicinal pinocembrin and related methylated flavanones

Jason QD Goodger; Samiddhi L Senaratne; Phillip van der Peet; Rhys Browning; Spencer J Williams; Dean Nicolle; Ian E Woodrow

Journal article

Eucalyptus subgenus Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) trees are abundant sources of medicinal pinocembrin and related methylated flavanones

Jason QD Goodger, Samiddhi L Senaratne, Phillip van der Peet, Rhys Browning, Spencer J Williams, Dean Nicolle, Ian E Woodrow

INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS | ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV | Published : 2019

DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2019.01.050

Abstract

Plant-derived flavanones such as pinocembrin and related methylated forms are of interest for their potential medicinal use. Commercial sources of these compounds are limited, but some trees in genus Eucalyptus subgenus Eucalyptus (family Myrtaceae) show promise due to their high foliar flavanone content and growth rate, particularly when grown in coppice cultivation. As a first step to developing commercial Eucalyptus plantations for flavanone production, this research aimed to identify high-yielding species. Foliar flavanones were quantified in 41 species and subspecies from three major sections within the subgenus. Pinocembrin concentrations were highest in two subspecies of E. preissiana..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Phillip van der Peet Author Chemistry

Spencer Williams Author Chemistry

Ian Woodrow Author Ecosystem and Forest Sciences

Jason Goodger Author Biosciences

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Grants

Awarded by Australian Research Council

Funding Acknowledgements

The authors thank Mr. Alistair Cumming, CEO of Gretals Australia for supporting the research, Metabolomics Australia for LCMS analyses, and Ms. Ros Gall, Director of the Dookie Campus, University of Melbourne for the use of land and facilities for the trial plot. The work was funded by an Australian Research Council grant to IW and JG (LP160101307). The NMR work was supported by Australian Research Council grants to SJW (DP160100597, DP180101957).