The Genus Diphasiastrum and Its Lycopodium Alkaloids

• Published in: Planta Medica
• Main Authors: Halldórsdóttir, Elsa, Kowal, Natalia Magdalena, Olafsdottir, Elin Soffia
• Other Authors: Lyfjafræðideild (HÍ), Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences (UI), Heilbrigðisvísindasvið (HÍ), School of Health Sciences (UI), Háskóli Íslands, University of Iceland
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Georg Thieme Verlag KG 2015
• Subjects: Diphasiastrum; Lycopodiaceae; Classification; Lycopodium alkaloids; Lyfjafræði; Lyfjagerð; Lyfjaefnafræði; Byrkningar; Iceland; Subarctic
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/1024; https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0035-1546182

Publisher's version (útgefin grein) The genus Diphasiastrum includes at least 23 species distributed primarily across the northern temperate and subarctic areas of the world. These plants produce an array of lycopodium alkaloids, and some species such as Diphasiastrum complanatum have been used in traditional medicine for ages for various conditions. Hybridization is common in this group of plants and they have always been a challenge for taxonomists and other scientists studying them. To date, 11 Diphasiastrum species have been reported to produce lycopodium alkaloids. In this review, reported alkaloids and their distribution patterns across these species along with taxonomical and bioactivity considerations are reviewed and discussed. This work was supported by The Icelandic Research Fund, The University of Iceland Research Fund, and The Eimskip Fund of the University of Iceland. Peer Reviewed