PHBIOSC Pharmacognosy 1 Midterms Lecture Notes

A summary of key vocabulary and concepts from the PHBIOSC Pharmacognosy 1 Midterms.

Carbohydrates

A large group of organic compounds consisting primarily of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O), serving as energy sources and structural components in organisms.

Monosaccharides

The simplest form of carbohydrates consisting of single sugar units, classified by the number of carbon atoms, such as glucose, fructose, and galactose.

Disaccharides

Carbohydrates composed of two monosaccharide units linked by a glycosidic bond, examples include sucrose, maltose, and lactose.

Polysaccharides

Large carbohydrate molecules made up of long chains of monosaccharide units, such as starch and cellulose.

Glycosides

Compounds that yield sugars upon hydrolysis, consisting of a sugar moiety (glycone) and a non-sugar moiety (aglycone), important for their medicinal properties.

Cardiac Glycoside

A type of glycoside that exerts a direct effect on the heart, often used to treat heart conditions, such as digoxin.

Lipid

Esters of long-chain fatty acids and glycerol, functioning in energy storage, protection, and as structural components of cell membranes.

Saponins

Soap-like compounds originating from plants which can form foams in water and have various biological activities, including cytotoxic effects.

Tannins

Complex polyphenolic compounds that precipitate proteins and are used for their astringent and hemostatic properties, commonly found in various plant sources.

Alginic Acid

A polysaccharide derived from brown seaweeds, used as a gelling agent and thickener in food and pharmaceutical formulations.

Agar

A gelatinous substance obtained from red algae, used in microbiological media and as a thickening agent in culinary applications.

Honey

A sweet substance produced by bees, which is composed mainly of invert sugar and is used in various medicinal formulations.

Inulin

A type of fructan or polysaccharide found in plants, used as a prebiotic and in clinical tests for measuring kidney function.

Oligosaccharides

Short chains of monosaccharides linked together, often found in dietary fibers and prebiotic foods.

Fructose

A simple sugar found in many plants, known for its sweetness, and serves as an essential carbohydrate source for diabetic patients.

Glucose

A simple sugar that is a primary energy source for cells and is found in various food sources.

Dextrose

Another name for glucose, commonly used in medical and food applications.

Lactulose

A synthetic sugar used as a laxative and to treat hepatic encephalopathy by promoting the excretion of ammonia.