A priliminary study of the biochemical ecological adaptation of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum (Royle) Ying (Berberidaceae)

The distribution pattern of main second metabolism substance, podophyllotoxin in a herbal plant, Sinopodophyllum hexandrum (Royle) Ying has been analysed. An explanation of the origin mechansm, distribution pattern and its ecological adaptation significance of podophyllotoxin was also presented. The results showed that podophyllotoxin had a similar biogenesis route with flavone, but came latter than flavone. Podophyllotoxin had the same effect as cholchine and an important value of anti-portential herbivorous animals and insects. Therefore, the podophyllotoxin had higher selextive value in the evolutionary process.