BIOB38H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Lamiaceae, Allspice, Capsicum
Document Summary
Common spices from old world tropics (india and eastern asia: pepper; cardamom; turmeric, ginger; cinnamon, cloves; nutmeg and mace. Lamiaceae mint family: have sturdy stems, leaves always grow alternating, apicaceae parsley family, small flowers organized in umbels, leaves are always split up and dissected. Spices from new world tropics: allspice (mexico, all peppers/ capsicum (central and south america, vanilla (mexico) an orchid. % world trade for important herbs and spices. *mostly old world spices: plants and their defence against their enemies. Intense smells and flavors: toxic for small animals discourage germs/herbivores; low toxicity, flavonoids and anthocyanins groups, antioxidants, capture free radicals generally healthy if not eaten too much. Terpenoids (essential oils: toxic for larger animals discourage germs/herbivores; low toxicity, used for aromatics in herbal remedies. Volatiles released and we have receptors to distinguish the smells. Glycosides: discourage germs/ herbivores; toxic, always has one sugar (glyco-) building block attached to active compound.
