Phenanthrenes

Phenanthreoids are chemical compounds formed with a phenanthrene backbone. Those compound are naturally occurring in plants, although they can also be synthetized. Phenanthreoids are chemical compounds formed with a phenanthrene backbone. Those compound are naturally occurring in plants, although they can also be synthetized. Phenanthrols are any of five isomeric phenols derived from phenanthrene (1-Phenanthrol, 2-Phenanthrol, 3-Phenanthrol, 4-Phenanthrol, 9-Phenanthrol). These molecules can be biomarkers of smoking and/or PAH worker exposure. Under UV irradiation, stilbene and its derivatives undergo intramolecular cyclization to form dihydrophenanthrenes. Phenanthrenes have been reported from higher plants, mainly in the Orchidaceae family. A few phenanthrenes have been found in the Hepaticae class and Dioscoreaceae, Combretaceae and Betulaceae families. The rhizome of Dioscorea communis contains phenanthrenes (7-hydroxy-2,3,4,8-tetramethoxyphenanthrene, 2,3,4-trimethoxy-7,8-methylenedioxyphenanthrene, 3-hydroxy-2,4,-dimethoxy-7,8-methylenedioxyphenanthrene, 2-hydroxy-3,5,7-trimethoxyphenanthrene and 2-hydroxy-3,5,7-trimethoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene). The dimeric phenanthrenoid 8,8'-bidehydrojuncusol and the monomeric dehydrojuncusol can be isolated from Juncus acutus. Perakensol is a phenanthrenoid that can be isolated from Alseodaphne perakensis. Phenanthrenes have been reported in species of Dendrobium, Bulbophyllum, Eria, Maxillaria, Bletilla, Coelogyne, Cymbidium, Ephemerantha and Epidendrum. 3,4,8-Trimethoxyphenanthrene-2,5-diol is one of the 17 phenanthrenes found in the extract of the stems of the orchid Dendrobium nobile.