Lipids Part 2

Question 1

What are waxes?

Answer 1

Waxes
* Are Esters of straight chained fatty acids and alcohols - found in the outer cells of fruits and leaves and form protection against penetration of loss of water.
* An example is Jojoba oil often used in cosmetics and herbal creams: liquid wax, used as emollient, anti-inflammatory.
* Beeswax has a low melting point too, as easy to mix oils and beeswax.

Question 2

What are Alkamides?

Answer 2

A lipid derivative are the Alkamides (found in Echinacea, Prickly Ash/Zanthoxylum, and Black pepper/Piper nigrum)
* Amide functional group, bonded to a hydrocarbon part derived from a fatty acid precursor.
* Due to fatty acid aspect, it has low polarity, but the amide group provides some polarity. A bit soluable but not very much, a lot more solubel in oily medium. Usually need 40- 60% ethanol.
* Alkamide - is a general term for alkylamides and alkynylamides etc etc. Cause a tingling numbness on the tongue and generate saliva - a good echinacea it should have a strong tingle.

Alkamides are low-polarity molecules that can cause tingling in the mouth. They modulate
macrophage activity and the production of
cytokines involved in the response to infection (flu, colds). They interact with endocannabinoid
receptors of various leucocytes, which might explain some of their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating effects.

Question 3

More about Echinacea, Zanthoxylum and Piper?

Answer 3

Echinacea isobutylamides +
* Subclass of alkamides: they have an isobutyl group attached to amide group. A mix of two species is good, purperea and augustofolia.
* These modulate macrophage activity (hoovering things up) and production of cytokines in response to infection (flu, colds).
* Anti-inflammatory effect via lymphocyte, leukocyte and cytokine modulation:
* Interact with endocannabinoid
receptors - found all over the body but some support immune system
* Modulate activity of cytokines.

Also find alkamides in Prickly ash, Zanthoxylum americanum. Alkamides – Sanshools. Similar tingling effect on trigeminal nerve to Echinacea
isobutylamides - not well researched though

Alkamides in Piper species too:
* Cis- and trans-pellitorine types (mirror images)
* Pellitorine type – antibacterial.
* Anticholinesterase and antioxidant effects - might be helpful to prevent alzhimers

Question 4

What are Polyalkynes (polyacetylenes) and polyalkenes (polyenes)?

Answer 4

Finally we have Polyalkynes (polyacetylenes) and polyalkenes (polyenes)
* Derived from fatty acid precursors and have multiple carbon to carebon double or more bonds
* Found in Echinacea, Panax (ginseng), arctium (Burdock), Water hemlock (toxic) and Celery, parsnips, parsley, carrots, fennel.
* Possible cancer treatment
* Panax - contains polyacetylenes in American ginseng, Panax ginseng and Panax notoginseng: panaxydol, panaxynol, panaxydiol – are cholesterol acyltransferase inhibitors.
* Panaxydol and related compounds are cytotoxic and pro-apoptosis, in vitro and in vivo. Panax important as an adaptogen, support with serious conditions.