Biological Chemistry

Undertaking fundamental and applied research on the characterization, function and uses of naturally occurring compounds from plants and fungi.

Bee Melitta dimidiata on pink flowers of Onobrychis viciifolia (Sainfoin)

Team lead: Professor Phil Stevenson

Our research is global with a focus on plant and fungal metabolites and exploring their potential uses to address the global challenges of biodiversity loss and sustainable food production and to enhance human health and well-being.

We study the ecological, nutritional and medicinal properties and applications of naturally occurring plant and fungal chemicals and their role in mediating biological interactions.

Our research generates data to inform conservation and to develop nature-based medicines, improved diets and environmentally benign pest management technologies.

Underpinning our work is expertise in plant and fungal chemistry from individual compound identification to metabolomics and assessing the biological activity and efficacy of metabolites from laboratory scale to clinical and field trials.

For example, we currently study:

  • the influence of nectar and pollen nutrients on pollinator health
  • the effects of bioactive compounds in pollen and nectar on bee pathogens and pollinator behaviour 
  • uses of natural products for human health as medicines, in the diet and for wound healing
  • modulating effects of natural products in cognitive behaviour
  • environmentally benign pest management and natural resistance in crops
  • phylogenetics to identify new sources of useful plant or fungal medicines and the evolution of biosynthetic pathways 
  • molecular modes of action using yeast chemical genetics 
  • pollen lipidomics

Team members

Priority Leader: Trait Diversity and Function
Prof. Phil stevenson

Initiative Leader: Biointeractions and Bioactive Molecules
Dr Melanie-Jayne Howes

Research leaders
Dr Hauke Koch
Dr Moses Langat
Dr Tom Prescott

Post-doctoral researchers
Dr Samuel Furse
Dr Ed Mas-Claret
Dr Adam Richard-Bollans
Dr David Russell
Dr Holly Siddique
Dr Eliot Jan-Smith

Kew Research Fellow 
Dr Carlos Martel

PhD/DPhil Students
Elynor Moore (Oxford)
Ellen Baker (Oxford) 
Juri Felix (Royal Holloway University of London).
Mona Diri (Kingston University London)
Hannah Jefford (Surrey)
Ruoxi Lin (University of East Anglia / John Innes Centre) 

Honorary research associate
Dr Iain Farrell
Dr Alison Scott-Brown

Projects

Bee on heather flower

Harmful or healthy? Studying how chemicals in nectar and pollen affect bees

Plant nectar and pollen contain a range of chemicals, some of which have antimicrobial properties. Can diseased bees take advantage of these antimicrobial chemicals and self-medicate?

Harmful or healthy?
Green bush with yellow flowers

Farmer Research Network: assessments of botanical pesticides to augment above and below ground ecosystem services for crop resilience

Developing plant-based pest management technologies for legumes and crops.

Agro-ecological crop protection
Close up of croton megalocarpus nuts

Optimising by-products from Croton megalocarpus seed oil extraction

Chemically investigating the by-products of Croton megalocarpus oil (CMO) extraction to determine antifungal, anticancer and antimalarial properties.

Croton megalocarpus seed oil extraction by-products
Flowers of Tanacetum cinerariifolium that look very similar to daisy

Pyrethrum in Bloom: Bringing back the power of pyrethrum to enhance livelihoods of small holders in Kenya

Developing innovative and sustainable plant-based pyrethrum formulations in Kenya

Pyrethrum in Bloom
Close up of a honeybee Apis mellifera on a yellow flower of ivy

The influence of diet on the honeybee lipidome

Studying the role of lipids in pollen in bee nutrition, health and well-being.

Honeybee lipidome