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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

metabolic transformational effects, endosymbionts, withanolides, Datura wrightii

College

Life Sciences

Department

Plant and Wildlife Sciences

Abstract

Recent research has been published determining the presence of anticancerous withanolides in the plant Datura wrightii. These withanolides have been found to be antiproliferative towards cancers such as breast cancer, gliobastoma, and head and neck cell carcinoma [1,2]. There also have even been some studies showing withanolide potential for neuritic and synaptic regeneration. These withanolides, which are oxygenated C-28 steroid hydrocarbons, are undergoing further research from Datura wrightii, but the associated endosymbionts of Datura wrightii are yet to be the subject of current studies. Endosymbionts, being fungi living within the plant, have commonly been found to produce either the same or very similar chemicals as are isolated from plant materials [3]. Often, when chemicals are found to be similar this is because of metabolic transformation, often termed biotransformation, which acts to alter the structure and function of the chemical, either organic or protein based.

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