purification of isolated compounds

plant primary metabolites

organic compounds produced in the plant kingdom, have metabolic functions essential for plant growth and development, produced in every plant

examples of molecules they may be

carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, vitamins

plant secondary metabolites

organic compounds produced in the plant kingdom, don't have apparent functions involved in plant growth and development, produced in different plant families

include

terpenoids, special nitrogen metabolite

phytochemistry

the study of phytochemicals, describing the isolation, purification, identification and structure elucidation

test for biological activity

area of clearance

chromatography components

1. stationary phase

2. mobile phase

mass spectrometry

a technique that can give information on molecular weight of molecule by breaking weaker bonds

step 1

production of gas phase of the ions of the compound by electron ionisation

steps 2 and 3

the ions are separated in the mass spectrometer according to the mass to charge ratio and detected in proportion to their abundance

step 4

a mass spectrum of the molecule is produced

crystallography

based on analysis of the diffraction patterns that emerge from a sample that is targeted by a beam of some sort

uses

stereochemistry, bond length and distance between atoms

IR spectroscopy

based on absorption measurement of different IR frequencies by a sample positioned in the path of an IR beam

nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)

based on specific properties of certain nuclei while they are in a strong magnetic field

information about structure

1. composition of atomic groups within the molecule

2. adjacent atoms

3. molecular dynamics

4. quantitative information - atomic ratios

advantage of NMR

sample measurements are non-destructive