Alkylresorcinols: chemical properties, methods of analysis and potential uses in food, industry and plant protection

Abstract

Phenolic compounds represent a large group of molecules widely distributed in the plant kingdom, where they have a variety of functions in growth, development and defence. These natural products include signalling molecules, pigments and flavours that can attract or repel, as well as allelochemicals that can protect plants against insects, fungi, bacteria and viruses (Posmyk and Janas, 2009). Phenolic lipids or longchain phenols belong to this type of molecule and are of increasing interest in phytochemistry. This chapter focuses on the nonisoprenoid alkyl derivatives of resorcinol also known as alkylresorcinols (ARs). Until now, several good reviews were dedicated to different aspects of ARs (Kozubek and Tyman, 1999, 2005; Kozubek, 2004a,c; Zarnowski and Kozubek, 2002). Here, we revise ARs in the light of our own research interests, including plant sources, methods of analysis, biological role in plants and microorganisms, chemical properties, bioactivities and their possible uses in nutrition, agriculture and industry.