Nature s Chemical Powerhouses

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Stephen Collins
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1 Nature s Chemical Powerhouses

2 This course has been designed for students of The School for Aromatic Studies (SAS). Use or reproduction beyond the students and faculty of SAS is strictly prohibited without written consent. This webinar and its content have been created by Grey Mountain Herbs and Nicholas Zemp. All rights reserved.

3 Leaves? - cactus Roots? mosses & liverworts Stems/trunks? Titan Arum (Amorphophallus titanum) Photosynthesis? Ghost Pipe (Monotropa uniflora)

acid groups Energy storage, signaling, structural support DNA/RNA Chains of nucleic acids Storage of genetic

4 Primary Metabolites Carbohydrates Glucose polymers Provide energy Proteins Made from chains of amino acids Catalyze reactions, DNA replication, transport mediation Lipids Hydrocarbon chains with alcohol or carboxylic acid groups Energy storage, signaling, structural support DNA/RNA Chains of nucleic acids Storage of genetic infomation Secondary Metabolites Essential Oils Alkaloids Flavonoids Steroids Tannins Saponins Polypeptides Etc.

5 Herbivore defense Pathogenic defense Environmental defense Plant to plant communication Insect signaling Allelopathy Purify the atmosphere

6 Prevent herbivory Cyanogenic glycosides Releases cyanide respiratory poison Phenolics Tannins Cinnamic acids Terpenes Catechols Flavonols Alkaloids Caffeine Nicotine Atropine

7 Warn other plants of Dangers Airborne alcohols When exposed to volatiles from conspecific plants infested with caterpillars, undamaged plants became more defensive against caterpillars that may come in the future. ~ Junji Takabayashi, Phd.

8 Attract Pollinators ß-ocimene Myrcene Herbivore Defense Attract predators or repel herbivores

9 The chemical inhibition of one plant (or other organism) by another, due to the release into the environment of substances acting as germination or growth inhibitors.

produce thousands of compounds from base molecules Hundreds of

10 Present in all living organisms Functions: Produce energy Produce enzymes Produce lipids Produce secondary metabolites Ability to produce thousands of compounds from base molecules Hundreds of different pathways, many of which start with the same precursor acetyl CoA

Leaves take in carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen through their stomata (pores in leaf) Water is carried by the roots and the xylem to the leaves to participate in the light

11 Leaves take in carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen through their stomata (pores in leaf) Water is carried by the roots and the xylem to the leaves to participate in the light reactions Light catalyzes proteins in chlorophyll to convert CO 2 into longer carbon chains (namely rubisco) These longer carbon chains are converted to sugars via the Calvin Cycle

13 Mevalonate sterols Non- mevalonate mono-, di- & sesqui- terpenes ~(Lichtenthaler 1999)

14 Isoprene Derivatives From non-mevalonate pathway Head to tail combination Form mono-, sesqui-, di-, terpenes Terpenols, terpenals, etc. Benzene Derivatives From Shikimic Acid Pathway Phenylalanine precursor Form phenylpropanoids

External Structures Internal Structures Glandular trichomes Secretory Cells Epidermal cells Secretory Ducts Readily volatilize without crushing or Secretory Cavities bruising Can have high or low

15 External Structures Internal Structures Glandular trichomes Secretory Cells Epidermal cells Secretory Ducts Readily volatilize without crushing or Secretory Cavities bruising Can have high or low yields Found primarily on leaf surfaces, flower petals Must be crushed or bruised to release oils Higher yields (relative to # of structures) Found primarily in seeds, rhizomes/roots, fruits, leaves, stems

Modified epidermal hairs Found on leaves, stems, and parts of flowers Contain large amount of mitochondria Common in the Lamiaceae family Basils Mints Lavender Rosemary

16 Modified epidermal hairs Found on leaves, stems, and parts of flowers Contain large amount of mitochondria Common in the Lamiaceae family Basils Mints Lavender Rosemary Melissa Source: Syred, Andrew. Stalked glandular trichome (T/S) with unicellular head on upper leaf surface Secretory Structures of Aromatic & Medicinal Plants. p 41. Print.

Acacia Oleaceae - Jasmine Photo credit: "Les Roses"

17 Found in flowers Diffuse from cytoplasm Low quantities Plant Families: Rosaceae Rose Fabaceae Acacia Oleaceae - Jasmine Photo credit: "Les Roses" by Pierre-Joseph Redouté, published in Paris in , page 290

Contents distinguish it from nonsecretory cells Found in many tissue types Common in these families: Zingiberaceae ginger Lauraceae bay laurel, cinnamon Piperaceae black pepper Myristicaceae - nutmeg

18 Contents distinguish it from nonsecretory cells Found in many tissue types Common in these families: Zingiberaceae ginger Lauraceae bay laurel, cinnamon Piperaceae black pepper Myristicaceae - nutmeg Poaceae lemongrass (citronella, palmarosa) Rosaceae - rose Source: Syred, Andrew. [Ginger] Rhizome (T/S) showing oil globules within secretory cell Secretory Structures of Aromatic & Medicinal Plants. p 30. Print.

Elongated cavities lined with epithelial tissues that excrete essential oils into the ducts Common in these families: Apiaceae angelica, carrot seed, caraway, fennel, Asteraceae yarrow, tansy,

19 Elongated cavities lined with epithelial tissues that excrete essential oils into the ducts Common in these families: Apiaceae angelica, carrot seed, caraway, fennel, Asteraceae yarrow, tansy, helichrysum, chamomiles Pinophyta Division fir, cedar, spruce, pine Source: Syred, Andrew. Needle (T/S) of C. atlantica with detail of resin duct (rd) Secretory Structures of Aromatic & Medicinal Plants. p 19. Print.

Lined with secretory tissues and cells that produce essential oils Found in parenchymal tissues Common in these families: Rutaceae orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime, tangerine, bergamot Myrtaceae

20 Lined with secretory tissues and cells that produce essential oils Found in parenchymal tissues Common in these families: Rutaceae orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime, tangerine, bergamot Myrtaceae Eucalyptus spp., tea tree, clove Burseraceae frankincense, myrrh, benzoin Source: Syred, Andrew. [Eucalyptus] Leaf (T/S) showing secretory cavities Secretory Structures of Aromatic & Medicinal Plants. p 26. Print.

Single pollen grain of chamomile (Matricaria recutita L., Asteraceae) (SEM, critical point dried, magnified 9,313 times actual size).

Single pollen grain of chamomile (Matricaria recutita L., Asteraceae) (SEM, critical point dried, magnified 9,313 times actual size). 34 HerbalGram 53 2001 A Closer Look Secretory Structures of Aromatic