Natural occurrence of arseno compounds in plants, lichens, fungi, algal species, and microorganisms

Naturally occurring both water- and lipid-soluble arseno compounds, as well as simple methylated arsenicals, which are less toxic than the inorganic species, and arsenoribosides are considered to be non-toxic, consisting of an interesting group of organometallic compounds. These compounds are of great interest, and the structure, function, and also metabolism, partly, has been elucidated. This review focuses primarily on the presence and distribution of organoarsenic compounds in vascular plants, marine and freshwater algal species, lichens, fungi, and microorganisms. Some aspects of the metabolism and transformation of arsenic species in mentioned organisms will also be discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.