The integrated class of Phytochemistry aims at giving basic notions on secondary metabolite biosynthesis and accumulation in vegetable species, as well as their classfication, their role in plants, and their use as chemotaxonomic markers. The class will focus also on how to extract secondary metabolites from a given vegetable matrix; several case studies and practical examples will be given. Part of the class will deal on commonly used analitical techniques for qualitative and quantitative determination of secondary metabolites in vegetable matrices.
The course aims to provide students with the basic knowledge concerning pharmaceutical biotechnology applied to plant organisms. Particular attention will be devoted to medicinal and aromatic plants, to the production of bioactive compounds of pharmaceutical interest, and to the knowledge of the main innovative biotechnological processes for the production of transgenic medicinal plants. The course will cover topics ranging from the chemistry of secondary in vitro metabolites to their isolation and characterization, molecular biology, and genetic engineering.
frontal lessons
Two modules:
Module I, 1 ECTS
Module II, 5 ECTS
primary and secondary metabolites
role of secondary metabolites in a given vegetable species
factors affecting the presence and content of secondary metabolites in a given vegetable species
Secondary metabolic cycles: acetate, mevalonate, shikimate
Further details on metabolic cycles:
-carotenes, carotenoids and apocarotenois: the metabolic pool of saffron (Crocus sativus L.)
-from simple phenols to polyphenols: an overview ranging to phenylpropanoids to anthocyanins
-terpenes and perpenoids: essential oils
-alcaloids
How to deal with a vegetable matrix, extraction techniques for volatile and non volatile metabolites: simple extraction, cascade protocol, hydrodistillation, steam distillation, mentions on non conventional extraction techniques
Analytical techniques for the determination of secondary metabolites in volatile and non volatile vegetable species; chemotaxonomy.
Several case studies will be discussed in the class.
Secondary metabolism: Alessandro Bruni, Biologia Farmaceutica, Edizioni Pearson, Capitolo 7 (pagg. 127-171); for further details see also Paul M. Dewick, Chimica biosintesi e bioattività delle sostanze naturali, Casa Editrice Piccin .
Extration and analytical techniques: Marco D’ischia, La Chimica organica in laboratorio, Casa Editrice Piccin:
Capitolo 2.5 (pag. 98-105); Capitolo 3.1 (pag. 111-120); Capitolo 3.2 (pag. 121-132); Capitolo 3.7 (pag. 152-163); capitolo 3.8 (pag. 164-182); Capitolo 4 (pag. 197-199); Capitolo 4.3 (pag. 219-238); Capitolo 6.2 (pag. 384-395); Capitolo 8.4 (pag. 639-653).