Plant Secondary Metabolites 1400-235MWR-OG

During the lecture general problems will be presented: what are the secondary metabolites of plants?; their phylogenesis; the ecological significance and chemotaxonomic use of chosen representatives of groups of metabolites; the classification, the nomenclature and the occurrence of secondary metabolites; the pathways of the biosynthesis, the physiological role in plants and the pharmacological activity on animals and men; the utilization in the cosmetics and the cosmetology.
Also will be discussed in detail groups of typical and valuable secondary metabolites: phenols and polyphenols (i.e. flavonoids and anthocyanins), quinones, betalains, coumarins, polyamines, cyanogenic glycosides, glucosinolates, terpenoids, steroids, carotenoids, and different groups of alkaloids.
Lecture topics:
1. The origin and the role of secondary metabolites.
2. Sugars, saccharides, glycosides.
3. Non-protein amino acids and amines.
4. Cyanogenic glycosides and glucosinolates.
5. Phenolics – simple phenolics, polyketides, quinones, flavonoids and anthocyanins.
6. Isoprenoids – mono-, seskwi- and diterpenoids, the tri-, tetra- and polyterpenoids.
7. Alkaloids – among others: derivatives of ornithine, lysine, tyrosine, tryptophan, quinoline, tropane and indole.
8. Non-typical fatty acids and organic acids.
9. Herbs and people – etnobotany and etnopharmacy.

Mode

Classroom

Course coordinators

Danuta Solecka

Learning outcomes

KNOWLEDGE: The graduate knows and understands
• the complexity of natural processes and phenomena, the resolution of which requires an interdisciplinary approach based on empirical data (K_W01 Bi)
• complex research problems in the natural sciences that require in-depth knowledge in the field of exact sciences (K_W02 Bi)
• in an advanced manner, the structural, genetic, metabolic, and functional diversity of living organisms and their interrelationships (K_W03 Bi)
• organism–environment relationships, applying hypotheses regarding temporal and spatial determinants of biological diversity (K_W04 Bi)
SKILLS: The graduate is able to
• apply research techniques and tools appropriate to problems in the studied specialization of biological sciences (K_U01 Bi)
• demonstrate the ability to critically analyze and select biological information, especially from electronic sources and media (K_U04 Bi)
• critically analyze a selected biological issue based on literature data and own research results, formulating independent opinions and conclusions (K_U08 Bi)
SOCIAL COMPETENCIES: The graduate is prepared to
• engage in lifelong learning and inspire others to develop this need (K_K01 Bi)
• fulfill an educational role in society in activities based on biological knowledge and skills (K_K02 Bi)
• communicate to society the latest achievements in the natural sciences and explain the rationale for conducting fundamental scientific research (K_K03 Bi)
• continuously improve and update knowledge by using scientific and popular-scientific sources related to specialized biological sciences (K_K07 Bi)

Assessment criteria

No more than two absences is allowed during lectures.
Written exam (open questions, test) or essay, in which knowledge presented during the lectures will be evaluate.

Practical placement

Bibliography

Biochemia Roślin, Jerzy Kączkowski PWN
Farmakognozja, Stanisław Kohlmunzer, Wydawnictwo Lekarskie PZWL
Original articles and reviews, pointed by coordinator

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:

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Description of 1400-235MWR-OG in USOSweb