Terpenes
Terpenes are comprised of many common flavors and fragrances. In addition, higher terpenoids contain the steroids (testosterone, cholesterol, progesterone and more) and tetraterpenoids such as the carotenoids. "Terpenoids may be classified according to the number of isoprenoid units incorporated, and hemiterpends, monoterpenes and the variants irregular monoterpenes and iridoids, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, sesterterpenes, triterpenes, tetraterpenes, and higher terpenoids, representing groups with increasing numbers of isoprene units. Structures are rationalized through extensive use of carbocation mechanisms and subsequent Wagner-Meerwein rearrangements."
Excerpt taken from Medicinal Natural Products: A Biosynthetic Approach by Paul M. Dewick
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The Chinese have used Artemisinin for centuries for treatment of fevers and malaria. The plant Artemisia annua is widespread and can be found in Europe, North and South America, as well as China. This compound has a rare peroxide linkage, which appears to be essential for its antimalarial activity.
Taxol is an anticancer drug that is derived from the Pacific yew, which is native to the Pacific Northwest. Because it takes the Pacific yew 100 years to mature and at least six Pacific yews to obtain enough Taxol to treat one patient, the synthesis of this compound has become imperative in the past fifteen years. Taxol is particularly effective against ovarian and breast cancers.
Links to More on Terpenes
A thorough discussion of terpenes (need Adobe Acrobat to read this pdf file)
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