16: Tea and Poppies Flashcards
What are plant secondary metabolites?
Organic compounds not directly involved in growth or reproduction, but instead mediate ecological interactions like defense or attraction.
How do secondary metabolites differ from primary metabolites?
Primary metabolites are essential for basic life processes (e.g., respiration), while secondary metabolites are more specialized and often lineage-specific.
Name three characteristics of alkaloids.
Nitrogen-containing, basic (alkaline), bitter-tasting, often neurologically active.
What ecological role do alkaloids play?
They deter herbivores through toxicity or unpleasant taste.
What is the botanical classification of Camellia sinensis?
Dicot, family Theaceae.
What are some key compounds found in tea leaves?
Polyphenols, caffeine, theanine, enzymes, pigments, and volatile compounds.
What enzyme is responsible for browning during tea oxidation?
Polyphenol oxidase.
List the three main steps in tea processing.
Withering, oxidation, fixing.
What is the botanical classification of Papaver somniferum?
Dicot, family Papaveraceae.
What kind of fruit does the opium poppy produce?
A capsule containing latex (opium).
Define opium, opiate, and opioid.
Opium = latex from poppy capsule;
Opiate = natural alkaloid (e.g., morphine);
Opioid = synthetic/semi-synthetic compound mimicking opiates.
What is latex in plants?
A milky fluid that can contain defensive compounds like opium.
What was a key consequence of the First Opium War
The Treaty of Nanking, including the cession of Hong Kong to Britain.
What is artificial selection in poppies?
Breeding poppies for specific traits like high morphine content or low alkaloid levels for edible seeds.
What study suggests a possible ecological role for morphine?
A study showed ants habituated to morphine might be attracted to poppy latex, hinting at a mutualistic interaction.
Which of the following is not a function of secondary metabolites?
A. Energy production
B. Herbivore deterrence
C. Pollinator attraction
D. Defense against pathogens
A. Energy production
What makes alkaloids effective as plant defense compounds?
They are bitter, neurologically active, and toxic
Theanine found in tea leaves contributes primarily to:
Relaxation effect
What happens during the oxidation stage of tea processing?
Cells are broken and polyphenols oxidize
The opium poppy’s fruit is classified as:
Capsule
Which of the following is an opiate?
Morphine
Which compound is a synthetic opioid?
Fentanyl
