Volatile Oils Quiz

Glycosides

• Most glycosides are subject to hydrolysis, resulting in the cleavage of glycoside linkages, by acid or enzyme.
• Sinigrin yields allyl isothiocyanate as one of the products of hydrolysis.
• Cyanophore glycosides are derivatives of mandelonitrile.
• Picrotoxin is a glycosidic principle obtained from fish berries, Cocculus indicus, formerly used as an analeptic.
• Allicin is a glycoside found in garlic that possesses anti-platelet, anti-microbial, and anti-rheumatic properties.
• Flavonoids are found in yellow flower pigments, also known as chalcones.
• Saponin glycoside destroys red blood corpuscles by hemolysis and is toxic especially to cold-blooded animals.
• Emulsin and myrosin are enzymes that hydrolyze a considerable number of glycosides.

Other Compounds

• Tetrahydrocannabinol is a hallucinogenic agent derived from Cannabis sativa.
• Balsam of Peru is an oleoresin used extremely as a counterirritant.
• Mandelonitrile is a glycoside found in cassava.
• Lipids are substances grouped together on the basis of their insolubility in water and solubility in most organic solvents.
• Acetic acid is an acid considered as a universal precursor for fatty acids, lipids, and other organic plant products.
• Lecithin is a substance present in soybean that can be found in number of proprietary products that are useful in controlling deranged lipid and cholesterol metabolism.
• Erucic acid is the predominant fatty acid constituent of rapeseed oil from Brassica napus (Brassicaceae).
• Citrus volatile oils whose aroma is injuriously affected by heat are best obtained by expression.
• Glandular cells are oil tubes found in plants under the Apiaceae family that contain the volatile oil.
• Menthol is the principal component of volatile oil.
• Eugenol is the active constituent of Clove oil.
• Anethole is a volatile oil that is used as an antipruritic.

Volatile Oils

• Volatile oils are usually obtained by steam distillation, with the exception of the oils from Pinaceae, which are obtained via destructive distillation.
• Ascaridol is a volatile oil constituent obtained from the Chenopodium oil.
• Volatile oils are used for therapeutic action, flavoring, and perfumery.
• Volatile oils may occur in the oil cells, glandular hairs, and ducts of the plant.

Alkaloids

• Ergotamine is an alkaloid used to relieve or treat migraine.
• Claviceps purpurea is the organism used in the parasitic method of producing Ergot alkaloids.
• Plant sources of purine bases alkaloids include Kola, Tea, and Cacao.
• Plant sources of tropane alkaloids include Belladonna, Stramonium, and Hyoscyamus.
• Mayer's reagent is an alkaloid reagent composed of Iodine, in potassium iodine solution.
• Conine is a liquid alkaloid that lacks oxygen in the molecule.
• Quinine is the alkaloid that continues to be the drug of choice against malaria.
• Morphine is the most widely used opium alkaloid, which is a narcotic analgesic and anti-tussive, and is used as a sedative, especially in allaying coughs.
• Physostigmine is the alkaloid found in Calabar bean.
• Tyrosine is the amino acid precursor of alkaloids via dopamine.

Hormones

• Oxytocin is a uterine stimulating fraction and is relatively free from action on other smooth muscle.
• Prostaglandins are a class of natural products with potent and diverse biological activities involved in platelet aggregation, pain, and inflammation.
• Glucagon is produced by the α-cells and exerts counterbalancing action on carbohydrate metabolism in the body, eliciting a hyperglycemic response in the body.
• Thyroid hyperactivity is characterized by muscle weakness with tremor, loss of body weight and fat, increased heart rate and blood pressure, but intolerance to cold.