99709 - Plants and Nutrition

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student acquires knowledge about plants for food use, in particular those that provide carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins. He also knows the main plant species that produce fragrances, that is, medicinal herbs and spices, and some of those containing specialized metabolites beneficial for human health. He also learns the importance that plants have had for human history, especially in relation to eating habits.

Course contents

Plants as living laboratories for the production and accumulation of food substances: distinction between primary ansd secondary metabolites and their functions. The plant cell compartments as a source of dietary fiber, polysaccharides and functional compounds. Food plants. Plants producing carbohydrates: cereals and derived products. Plants producing proteins, definition of complete proteins and incomplete proteins. Leguminosae and Amarantaceae. Plants producing oily seeds. Medicinal plants as a source of molecules with antioxidant, nutraceutical and chemiopreventive activities

Readings/Bibliography

Bibliographic material with scientific articles published on either Italian or International Journals.

Teaching methods

The teaching activity will be done using an approach of Digital Integrative Teaching, which will be based on the recording of lessons.

The lectures will be done using teaching material in the form of Power Point slides.

This material, together with the recordings of the lessons, will be made available to students on the Virtual platform.

Assessment methods

The assessement of learning occurs only through the final exam, which consists of a written test with 30 multiple choice questions, each counting 1 point.

Teaching tools

Teaching tools are represented by Power Point slides, and the the lessons will be recorded. The slides will be available for students the day before the lessons, and the recordings of the lesson will be uploaded on Virtuale platform.

Office hours

See the website of Fabiana Antognoni