Week 2

Question 1

How many carbons are in a monoterpene, a sesquiterpene, a diterpene, a triterpene and a tetraterpene?

Answer 1

monoterpene - 10 C

sesquiterpene - 15 C

diterpene - 20 C

triterpene - 30 C

tetraterpene - 40 C

Question 2

Which classes of terpenes are volatile?

Answer 2

monoterpenes
sesquiterpenes
hemiterpenes

Question 3

What is the definition of a resin?

Answer 3

a hydrocarbon secretion of many plants, particularly CONIFEROUS trees
- mixture of terpenoid molecules and other aromatic compounds that combine to form a solid or semi-solid substance that is extracted by plants for protection or response to injury

semi-solid portion is often di- and triterpenes

the aromatic portion is commonly mono and sesquiterpenes

• tend to be bitter

Question 4

what does, amphipathic mean?

Answer 4

describing a molecule, such as a detergent, which has both hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups

Question 5

what is a saponin?

Answer 5

Amphipathic glycosides grouped phenomenologically by the soap-like foaming they produce when shaken in aqueous solutions, and structurally by having one or more hydrophilic glycoside moieties combined with a lipophilic triterpene derivative.

Question 6

what are the basic properties of alkaloids?

Answer 6

nitrogenous molecules (often within a heterocyclic ring)
occurs as salts of N-oxides in plants
alkaline nature
soluble in hydroethanol menstrum

**Lots of poisons, lots of BIG PUNCH therapeutic effects

Question 7

what is a mucilage?

Answer 7

forms gel or slime with water
found in althea officinalis, ulmus fulva
generally soothing and emollient
significant CROSSOVER between mucilages and immunomodulating polysaccharides

Question 8

are carotenoids phenolic?

Answer 8

no, they are terpenes