Category: Biochemistry

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Biochemistry

Crocus chemistry: Saffron, colours, and poisonous imposters

Infographic on the chemistry of crocuses. Crocus stigmas are yellow due to carotenoid pigments and related compounds. One of these compounds, crocin, causes the deep red colour of the stigma of Crocus sativus, from which the spice saffron is produced. The orange and yellow petals of crocuses also owe their colours to carotenoids. Purples are due to anthocyanin pigments, commonly glucosides of delphinidin and petunidin. Crocus sativus, commonly known as saffron crocus, is also sometimes referred to as the autumn crocus due to when it flowers. However, "autumn crocus" is also used as a name for species in the Colchicum genus. All plants in the Colchicum genus contain the toxic alkaloid colchicine. Ingesting colchicine can lead to multiple organ failure and death. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, colchicine is used as a treatment for gout.

Did you know that saffron is obtained from a type of crocus? This is a fact that had somehow escaped me, and which I only discovered when wondering why saffron contains a compound called ‘crocin’. Turns out that, yes, there is a connection!

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Biochemistry C&EN

What common stimulants do we get from plants? – in C&EN

Stimulants produced by plants are among the most widely used drugs in the world. In the latest edition of Periodic Graphics in Chemical & Engineering News, we look at why plants make these compounds and the ways in which the molecules produce stimulant effects. View the full graphic on the C&EN site.

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Biochemistry ChemVsCOVID

#ChemVsCOVID: How variant tracking and sequence sharing help the fight against the virus

On this day a year ago, the Alpha variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was designated a variant of concern. The final graphic in the #ChemVsCOVID series with the Royal Society of Chemistry looks at how variants are tracked and what causes the differences between them.

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Biochemistry Chemistry in the News

What is folic acid, and why is it important during pregnancy?

Infographic titled 'Why is folic acid important during pregnancy?'. Folic acid is a human-made form of folate, vitamin B9. We have to get it from our diet. It's converted into folate in the body. Folate is found naturally in a number of foods, particularly leafy vegetables, seeds, and nuts. It can also be added to some foods including flour, a process known as fortification. Low levels of folate have been linked to neural tube defects (NTDs). These happen when the neural tube, which forms the brain and spinal cord, doesn't develop or close properly, leading to conditions like spina bifida. Taking folic acid before and during early pregnancy reduces the risk of NTDs by about 70%. The mechanism by which folate reduces NTDs isn't known, but folate is important for building nucleic acids, the building blocks of DNA. Large quantities of nucleic acids are required by the developing neural tube for DNA replication, and folic acid deficiency may impact this.

This week, the UK has confirmed it plans to fortify non-wholemeal flour with folic acid. It’s not the first country to do so: the United States has been fortifying flour with folic acid since 1998. Most countries in South America and a number in Asia also have mandatory fortification programs. This graphic looks at the […]

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Biochemistry

Dahlia colour chemistry: Why don’t we see blue dahlias?

Infographic on the chemistry of dahlia flower colours. The colours of dahlias are a result of anthocyanin-, chalcone- and aurone-derived pigments. Colourless sflavones also interact with and stabilisse anthocyanin pigments. Chalcones and aurones lead to yellow and orange dahlias, while anthocyanins play a part in orange, pink, red and black dahlias. Blue dahlias aren't seen because dahlias lack an enzyme for making delphinidin, the anthocyanin which leads to blue flowers.

Dahlias: the jewels of the late summer garden. Shades of red, yellow, orange, pink, with their petals forming intricate geometric structures. But, like roses and many other flowers, the dahlia spectrum is missing one colour: blue. So why are blue blooms so rare in nature?

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Biochemistry C&EN

How the sun affects our skin: vitamin D, sunburn and skin cancer – in C&EN

Summers are filled with sunny days to enjoy the outdoors, but you need to bring along the proper sun protection to prevent skin damage. The latest edition of Periodic Graphics in Chemical & Engineering News looks at the chemistry the sun triggers in our skin. View the full graphic on the C&EN site.