Ethnobotany Secondary Metabolites

• what are secondary metabolites not critical for?

  basic metabolic functions
• what are the 4 main classes of secondary metabolites?

  Alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolics, and glycosides
• what are secondary metabolites derived from?

  primary metabolites
• what is the largest class of secondary metabolites?

  terpenes
• what do terpenes do?

  defense, attract pollinators, inhibit bacterial and fungal pathogens
• what are examples of terpenes?

  conifers, mint, citrus, lavender, and cannabis
• what is taxol important for?

  Cancer treatment.
• what are phenolics used for?

  defence, attract pollinators
• what are groups pf phenolics?

  Flavonoids, tannins, lignans
• what are examples of phenolics?

  juglone in walnut tree and tannins in oak tree
• what do alkaloids and glycosides contain?

  nitrogen containing compounds
• what do n-contataining compounds do?

  defence and anti-uv
• what are examples of nitrogen containing compounds?

  poisions, narcotics, stimulants and medicines
• what are glycosides?

  molecule with a sugar is bound to another function group via glycosidic bond
• what are types of glycosides?

  cyanogenic, cardioactive, and saponins
• what are cyanogenic glycosides?

  Toxic compounds found in certain plants that release cyanide when metabolized.
• what are cardioactive glycosides?

  steriods that are used to treat forms of heart failure
• what are saponins?

  less useful, can be toxic, steriods
• what is foxglove?

  snapdragon used to treat heart failure
• where is asprin found?

  Willow bark.
• what is asprin used ofr?

  reduce fever and pain
• what is aspirins mode of action?

  inhibit COX enzyme promting prostaglandin production
• what are alkaloids?

  Organic compounds containing nitrogen that have physiological effects on humans and animals.
• how do alkaloids effect mammalian physiology?

  central nervous system
• what are problems with alkaloids?

  Toxicity, addiction, and potential for abuse.
• what are the 3 categories of alkaloids?

  stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens
• what are examples of stimulants?

  caffine, cocaine and nicotine
• what are depressants?

  morphine and codeine
• what are hallucinogens?

  mescaline, tropane and ergot alkaloids
• examples of alkaloids?


  quinine, snakeroot, aloe, ephedrine
• what are psychoactive drugs?

  influence the release of neurotransmitters
• what are examples of psychoactive drugs?

  opium, morphine, codeine, heroin,
• what was extracted from coca leaves?

  cocaine and crack
• what is tobacco?

  alkaloid with nicotine in roots
• what is peyote?

  hallucinogenic alkaloid