Lecture 2: Herbal Remedies of Interes

Question 1

Define essential oils

Answer 1

a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants.

Question 2

How are essential oils extracted?

Answer 2

• commonly extracted by steam distillation,

….. but could use solvent or CO2 extraction, or other methods.

Question 3

Define aromatherapy

Answer 3

complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) that uses plant materials and essential oils, and other aroma compounds, for improving psychological or physical well-being.

Question 4

How are phytochemical compositions recognized?

Answer 4

• Chemical senses 
– taste
– smell 
– pain
• Biological assays
• Chemical assays and instrumental analysis

Question 5

Define herbs

Answer 5

herbs are plants with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, in medicine, or as fragrances.

Question 6

Define functional food

Answer 6

A functional food is a food given an additional function by adding new ingredients or more of existing ingredients.

The term may also apply to traits purposely bred into existing edible plants, such as purple or gold potatoes having enriched anthocyanin or carotenoid contents, respectively.

Question 7

Define phytochemicals

Answer 7

Phytochemicals are chemical compounds produced by plants, generally to help them thrive or thwart competitors, predators, or pathogens.
Some phytochemicals have been used as poisons and others as traditional medicine.

Question 8

What are natural health products?

Answer 8

• Vitamins and minerals
• Herbal remedies
• Homeopathic medicines
• Traditional medicines such as traditional Chinese medicines
• Probiotics
• Other products like amino acids and essential fatty acids

Question 9

Define dietary supplements

Answer 9

A dietary supplement is a manufactured product intended to supplement the diet when taken by mouth as a pill, capsule, tablet, or liquid. A supplement can provide nutrients either extracted from food sources or synthetic, individually or in combination, in order to increase the quantity of their consumption.

Question 10

Define herbal medicine

Answer 10

remedies and medicines made from plants.

Question 11

Define complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)

Answer 11

medical products and practices that are not part of standard medical care.

Question 12

Define phytomedicine (herbal medicine)

Answer 12

Herbal-based traditional medical practice that uses various plant materials in modalities considered both preventive and therapeutic.

Question 13

Define nutraceutical

Answer 13

a food containing health-giving additives and having medicinal benefit.