Phytochemistry

Question 1

Tannins

Answer 1

Astringent polyphenols, bark/fruit/wines

Question 2

Alkaloids

Answer 2

Bases. Bitter crystalline solids.
Both medicines and poisons.
Quinine, morphine, strychnine, codeine, caffeine, cocaine, nicotine.

Question 3

Sugars

Answer 3

Water-soluble crystalline carbs.
Sucrose, lactose.
Mono-, di-, and tri-saccharides.

Question 4

Starches

Answer 4

White carb. Two poly-saccharides built from glucose.

Makes adhesives, paper, and textiles.

Question 5

Resins

Answer 5

Yellow, clear or brown plant oozes.

Make plastics, varnishes, and drugs.

Question 6

Saponins

Answer 6

Makes soaps, detergents, and emulsifiers

Question 7

Oleoresins

Answer 7

Combo of volatile oils and resin

Question 8

Oils

Answer 8

Glycerides, viscous, slippery and greasy

Question 9

Proteins

Answer 9

Complex organic macromolecules composed of amino acids.

Includes enzymes, hormones, and antibodies.

Question 10

Mucilages

Answer 10

Gummy secretion

Question 11

Gums

Answer 11

Water-soluble plant extracts.

Soft and sticky when wet, brittle and solid when dry.

Question 12

Gum Resins

Answer 12

Combo of gums and resin

Question 13

Glycosides

Answer 13

Simple (monosaccharide) sugar bound to a non-sugar

Question 14

Flavonoids

Answer 14

Water soluble plant pigments. Polyphenols.

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties.

Question 15

Balsams

Answer 15

Aromatic resins containing benzoic acid, cinnamic acid or both or their esters

Question 16

Bitters

Answer 16

bitter tasting appetite stimulators

Question 17

Enzymes

Answer 17

Proteins which catalyze a metabolic processes of an organism. Act on particular molecules (called “substrates”).

Question 18

Volatile Oils

Answer 18

Essential/aromatic class of fragile oils derived from plants.

Question 19

Camphors

Answer 19

Aromatic crystalline compounds obtained from the wood or leaves of the camphor tree, or anything with similar characteristics: antimicrobial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory.