POLYAMINES AND POLYAMINE DERIVATIVES IN NATURE

Polyamines such as spermidine or spermine and their derivatives - espe cially those of hydroxycinnamic acids - are well known natural product s isolated from human, animals, plants and microorganisms. Although th e history of the polyamines already started in 1678, much is still to be discovered: their influence in different processes (cell growth, ca rcinogenesis, neurotransmission or in plants: flowering, fruit-ripenin g, plant-senescence...) could be demonstrated, but the mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Polyamine derivatives are involved in a grow ing number of research fields, because they find potential use as biop esticides, in cancer therapy, or for the treatment of central nervous system disorders.