Lecture 11 Whenua

Question 1

What percentage of vascular plants in NZ are endemic?

Answer 1

~80%

Indicates the unique biodiversity of New Zealand’s flora.

Question 2

What is the significance of bioactive natural products in NZ?

Answer 2

They are a rich source of secondary metabolites.

These products have potential medicinal properties.

Question 3

Define Mātauranga Māori.

Answer 3

Traditional knowledge regarding toxicity, medicinal use (rongoā), and natural product utility.

Includes knowledge of plants like tutu, pukatea, mānuka, and harakeke.

Question 4

What does bioassay-directed purification involve?

Answer 4

Extract → fractionate → test bioactivity → isolate lead compound(s).

Question 5

What techniques are used in structure elucidation?

Answer 5

MS, NMR, and comparison with known compounds.

Question 6

What does SAR stand for in the context of natural product research?

Answer 6

Structure-Activity Relationship.

Question 7

What are the steps in preclinical and clinical testing?

Answer 7

Animal models → toxicity and efficacy → clinical trials.

Question 8

What type of activity is associated with Karakin from the Karaka plant?

Answer 8

Mammalian toxin.

Question 9

What is the activity of Tutin derived from Tutu?

Answer 9

Mammalian toxin, GABA antagonist.

Question 10

What analgesic compound is derived from Pukatea?

Answer 10

Pukateine.

Question 11

True or False: Bullatenone from Ramarama is associated with Māori knowledge.

Answer 11

False.

Question 12

Fill in the blank: The active compound in Mānuka effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria is _______.

Answer 12

leptospermone.

Question 13

What traditional use is associated with Harakeke?

Answer 13

Used as a laxative.

Question 14

What types of compounds have been revealed through screening of NZ plants?

Answer 14

Antimicrobial, antiviral, and cytotoxic compounds.

Question 15

What are potential anticancer agents derived from liverworts?

Answer 15

Cytotoxic diterpenes.

Question 16

What challenge do bioactive compounds often face in pharmaceutical development?

Answer 16

Low solubility or poor systemic bioavailability.

Question 17

What is the focus of ongoing research collaborations in NZ?

Answer 17

Sustainable harvest and ethical benefit sharing.

Question 18

Fill in the blank: Mānuka triketones have potent antimicrobial activity but limited systemic use due to _______.

Answer 18

solubility.

Question 19

What percentage of vascular plants in New Zealand are endemic?

Answer 19

~80%

Question 20

What percentage of liverworts in New Zealand are endemic?

Answer 20

~50%

Question 21

What is a significant source of secondary metabolites in New Zealand?

Answer 21

Biodiversity

Question 22

What traditional knowledge is involved in the discovery of natural medicines in New Zealand?

Answer 22

Mātauranga Māori

Question 23

What are examples of plants used in Māori medicine?

Answer 23

• Tutu
• Pukatea
• Mānuka
• Harakeke

Question 24

What is the process of bioassay-directed purification?

Answer 24

Extract → fractionate → test bioactivity → isolate lead compound(s)

Question 25

What techniques are used for structure elucidation in natural product research?

Answer 25

* MS * NMR * Comparison with known compounds

Question 26

What does SAR stand for in the context of natural products?

Answer 26

Structure-Activity Relationship

Question 27

What is the first step in the process from natural product to medicine?

Answer 27

Bioassay-directed purification

Question 28

Which compound is derived from Karaka and is known as a mammalian toxin?

Answer 28

Karakin

Question 29

Which plant is the source of the analgesic compound Pukateine?

Answer 29

Pukatea (Laurelia novae-zelandiae)

Question 30

What type of activity is associated with Totarol?

Answer 30

Antimicrobial

Question 31

In what year was Tutin discovered?

Answer 31

1901

Question 32

True or False: Bullatenone is derived from a plant known for its Māori knowledge involvement.

Answer 32

False

Question 33

What traditional method is used to treat Tutu poisoning?

Answer 33

Hanging upside down over smoky fire

Question 34

What is the traditional use of Pukatea bark decoction?

Answer 34

Pain relief

Question 35

What active compounds from Mānuka are effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria?

Answer 35

Leptospermone (triketones)

Question 36

Fill in the blank: Mānuka honey has unique antibacterial properties due to its _______ content.

Answer 36

Methylglyoxal

Question 37

What bioactive compounds were isolated from Harakeke roots?

Answer 37

Antifungal compounds

Question 38

Which liverwort yields unique cytotoxic diterpenes?

Answer 38

Lepidolaena taylorii

Question 39

What is a significant challenge in pharmaceutical development of bioactive compounds?

Answer 39

Low solubility or poor systemic bioavailability

Question 40

What has been a focus of ongoing research and collaborations in New Zealand?

Answer 40

Sustainable harvest and ethical benefit sharing

Question 41

What is kaitiakitanga in the context of Māori collaboration?

Answer 41

Guardianship

Question 42

What is the significance of genetic studies on liverwort chemotypes?

Answer 42

Enable cultivation and biosynthetic pathway research