Plants produce an outstanding number of chemical compounds that function as protection against pests, colorants, scent attractants, as hormones, and more. Many of these compounds have proven to be important for human survival and are utilized by humans for food, medicine, poison, and spiritual ceremony. This program will explore the unseen chemical world of plants with an emphasis on plants that humans find useful.
Students will learn about the major classes of compounds responsible for their diverse biological activities, ecological functions as well their distribution in major plant families. Lab methods in plant chemistry will be a significant focus, where students will have the opportunity to practice techniques and experiments including extraction, distillation, preparation of plant-based medicines and bioassays to test the antibiotic and allelopathic properties of plant extracts. Students will conduct library research to produce a series of medicinal plant monographs outlining the chemical and biological properties of each species and present some of their research to the class. Through these program activities, students will gain practice with reading and critically evaluating peer-reviewed papers relating to medicinal plants.
Anticipated Credit Equivalencies
*4- Natural Product Chemistry with Lab
*4- Plant Chemical Ecology
*4- Plant Systematics
*4- Science Writing and Communication
Registration
Academic Details
$100 fee covers project supplies ($50) and lab fee ($50)
Upper division science credit available to students who complete upper division level work.