93959 - NATURAL PRODUCTS, FLAVOURS AND FRAGRANCES

Academic Year 2023/2024

Learning outcomes

The student has a knowledge of the most important biomolecules, as carbohydrates, lipids, aromatic polyketides, terpenes, peptides and proteins, alkaloids, antraquinones, flavonoids and terpenes. A particular attention will be devoted to the study of structure, biosynthesis and purification methods of natural compounds that are used in cosmetic formulations and are obtained from plants. The student will also learn the chemical properties of the molecules used in the preparation of aromas and fragrances.

Course contents

The chemical components of plants, an overview: hydrocarbons, functionalized hydrocarbons, terpenes, aromatics, carbohydrates, amines, alkaloids, amino acids, nonprotein amino acids, proteins.

Plant natural product biosynthesis: Lipids metabolism. Carbohydrates metabolism. Amino acids metabolism. Nucleic acids metabolism. Metabolism includes anabolism and katabolism. How and why these compounds are synthesized by plants.

Individual fragrance and flavor materials: aliphatic compounds, acyclic terpenes, cyclic terpenes, other cycloaliphatic compounds, aromatic compounds, phenols and phenols derivatives.

Traditional, analytical and preparative separations of natural plants with several examples.

Characterization of natural products: nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy.

Readings/Bibliography

L. J. Cseke, A. Kirakosyan, P. B. kaufman, S. L. Warber, J. A. Duke, H. L. Brielman - Natural Products from Plants Second Edition - CRC Taylor & Francis

H. Surburg, J. Panten - Common Fragrance and Flavour Materials - Wiley-VHC Verlag

Teaching methods

The topics listed in the program will be fully covered. In the exercise module, students will do experiments of aromas and fragrances extraction, working in pairs.

As concerns the teaching methods of this course unit, all students must attend Module 1, 2 [https://www.unibo.it/en/services-and-opportunities/health-and-assistance/health-and-safety/online-course-on-health-and-safety-in-study-and-internship-areas] online, while Module 3 on health and safety is to be attended in class or on Microsoft Teams according to the modality chosen by the teacher. Information about Module 3 attendance schedule is available on the website of your degree programme.

Assessment methods

The preparation is tested by a oral exam.

Teaching tools

Overhead projector, PC, blackboard

Office hours

See the website of Claudia Tomasini