LECTURES:
Classification of plant chemical compounds with regard to their chemical structure. Phytochemical composition of mosses, ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms. Phytochemical ecology and phytochemicals as biomarkers of environmental conditions. Phytochemical genomics and phytochemicals as regulators/modulators of gene expression.
Transport and compartmentalization of chemical compounds within the plant.
Mechanisms of action of plant chemical compounds a) by interaction with cell membranes, b) on gene expression, c) on protein synthesis and activity. Plant chemical compounds as signaling molecules.
Plant chemical compounds as allelochemicals (phytotoxins); chemical defense strategies of plants.
Antagonism and synergism in the action of plant chemical compounds.
Cytotoxic and genotoxic properties of plant chemical compounds; detoxification and adaptation mechanisms.
Principles of extraction of chemical compounds with different structures from plants, their identification, quantification and isolation.
Basics of formulating and standardizing the content of liquid and dry extracts.
Computer and mathematical approaches to data analysis in phytochemical research. Application of plant chemical compounds in industry, for sustainable development and environmental protection.
PRACTICUM:
The course includes a "case study" approach - independently and in groups.
During the practicum, students are expected to design their own small project and carry out experiments to realize it, and critically evaluate the results, draw conclusions and propose further application of the results in science or the industrial sector.
The methods and techniques they will be familiar with are:
1) Preparation of extracts by different types of extraction (water-alcohol solvents, ultrasonic bath, microwaves, maceration, percolation, use of acids, alkalis and/or enzymes).
2)-3) Determination of the concentration of different groups of plant chemical compounds (total phenols, flavonoids, flavonols, catechins and hydroxycinnamic acids, proanthocyanidins, monomeric anthocyanins, carotenoids, chlorophyll, lycopene, ?-carotene, tannins and/or glucosinolates).
4)-5) Concentration, separation, identification and quantification of individual vitamins, flavonoids, phenolic acids and/or glucosinolates using the RP-HPLC method.
6)-7) Assessment of the bioavailability of plant chemical compounds using an in vitro model of human digestion.
8) Isolation of individual compounds using the RP-HPLC method.
9) Formulation and standardization of the content of liquid and dry isolates.
10)-11) Measurement of the effect of plant chemical compounds on the activity of selected enzymes.
12) Application of the isolated plant compound(s) on selected cells/tissues/organs/organisms (e.g. whether and how the isolated chemical compound affects the mass yield and resistance of a plant species to certain stress (drought, pathogens, etc.)).
13) Mathematical and computer data processing.
14) Making conclusions and preparing results for presentation to the "public".
15) Presentation of overall results and discussion.
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