The Plant Pigments that Make You Look Good

Secondary plant metabolytes

made up of 6 member hydro-carbon ring, chained together.

Protect plants from oxidative damage

The structure of these hydro-carbon rings and

how they are linked together determine the classification of polyphenol compounds.

There are four main classes of polyphenols

based on their molecular structures.

Examples of phenolic acids

Salicylic acid

Cinnamic acid

Coumaric

Vanillic

Gallic

Benzoic

Rosmarinic

Water soluble

Antioxidant

Present in all plant

forms

Easily absorbed from food

sources

Fruit

Vegetables

Olive Oil

Red Wine

Flax seed

Herbs

Tea

Coffee

Chocolate

Secondary metabolite in plants

Use as a defence against fungus and microbes

Found in all plant tissues from roots, leaves,

stems, flowers, and fruit.

Anti-cancer; anti-tumor

Ex. Resveratrol

Secondary metabolite in plants

Major class of phytoestrogens

Found in sesame seeds, flax seeds, Soybeans,

brassica vegetables

Anti-inflammatory

Anti-oxidant

Secondary metabolite in plants

Largest class of phenols with over 4,000 identified.

Structure is 2 aromatic hydrocarbon rings (A & B)

and a third carbon ring (C) with a single Oxygen molecule.

Flavonoids are responsible for the color of plants

Flavonoids:

Flavonols Flavones Flavanones Flavanols Anthocyanins Isoflavones

Individual differences within each group arise

from the variation in number and arrangement of the hydroxyl groups

and their extent of alkylation and/or

glycosylation

Benefits:

Antioxidant

Antimicrobial

Anti- aging

Anti Cancer

Anti- HIV

Antibacterial

Anti-diabetic

Benefits:

Antimicrobial

Anti-oxidant

Anti-viral

Benefits:

Cardio Protective

Helps with weight loss

Hepatoprotective

Improves skin elasticity

Lowers blood pressure to healthy levels

Benefits:

Neuro protective

Prevents blood clotting disorders

Prevents bone loss in osteoporosis

Prevents hardening of the arteries

Reduces cholesterol

Repairs skin damage

So far we’ve looked at the chemical structure of plant secondary metabolites called Phenols.

We’ve looked at the 4 classification of phenols based on molecular structure

We’ve examined the class of flavonoids more closely .

We talked about the benefits that flavonoids have for human health.

In the next lesson we are going to look more

closely at the different kinds of flavonoids, where to find them, and what their benefits are.