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Planta Med 2013; 79(08): 613-615
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1328429
Perspectives
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Dioecy in Plants – Is It an Important Factor for Phytochemists to Consider?

Bradley S. Simpson
1   Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, School of Medicine, Flinders University of South Australia, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
2   School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 15 January 2013
revised 25 February 2013

accepted 11 March 2013

Publication Date:
10 April 2013 (online)

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Abstract

Plants with separate male and female flowers are termed dioecious. Dioecy is not rare, yet is a characteristic that could potentially impact the phytochemical and subsequent pharmacological properties of a species. This is a brief insight which highlights why the sex of the plant might be an important factor to consider for researchers within phytochemistry related fields.

Key words

chemistry - dioecy - female - male - medicinal - metabolites - pharmacological - plant
 

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