Department of Botany, Thakur College of Science & Commerce ( Autonomous)

  Painkillers from Plants What are pain killers? Painkillers are compounds or drugs which block the perception of pain either by binding to specific receptors. Different painkillers bind to different types of receptors to give similar results. In case of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), it binds to the site where COX (cyclo-oxygenase) inhibitor binds thus stopping the production of this enzyme. COX enzyme is responsible for production of prostaglandins which in-turn are involved in the perception of pain and inflammation. Opioids are another type of painkillers which work by binding to opioid receptors present in the central nervous system. Due to this the perception of pain is reduced. The exact mechanism of aspirin is not clear yet. Pain killers from plants: Different plants produce different compounds which can act as painkillers for humans. These compounds are usually secondary metabolites which the plant does not use in daily metabolism processes, howe

  Urushiol What is Urushiol? Urushiol is a mixture of organic compounds which has properties of an irritant. The mixture is oily in nature and is found in the plants belonging to the family of Anacardiaceae . The exact composition of the mixture depending on the plant source. Some of the members of family Anacardiaceae are: Cashew, poison ivy and Asiatic lacquer tree etc. The name urushiol comes from the Japanese word for the lacquer tree – “Urushi” Urushiol structure: (Image source: Wikipedia) Where R can be an unsaturated alkyl chain whose length can be from 15 to 17 carbons. Example: (CH2)7CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CH2 Where is urushiol present in plant? The location of urushiol in plant varies across species. In mango it is present on the skin of the fruit, in cashew it is found on the surface of the outer shell, but in case of Asiatic lacquer tree it is present in sap of the tree which is extracted by cutting 5-10 lines on the trunk. In poison ivy it can be found in th

  CAN MITOCHONDRIA COMMUNICATE? MITOCHONDRIAL SOCIALIZATION AND ITS IMPLICATIONS Sociality or social behavior refers to the interactions that take place amongst individuals of the same species living together in a society. Sociality acts as a catalyst to the functionality and development of any social group by allowing individuals to overcome their limitations. This can be seen in the development of human civilization. It hasn't come this far because of an individual but is the result of the combined efforts of a lot of people coming together. All kinds of organisms starting from unicellular bacteria to complex animals like humans realize that the pros of establishing a social setup and working as a whole outweigh the cons by a significant margin. Socialism is believed to have evolved as adaptive behavior; being social increases fitness, survival rate, reproductive success, capacity, and productivity. What are Mitochondria? Popularly referred to as the powerhouse of the cel

CYANIDE IN APPLES You’re highly unlikely to manage to eat enough apple seeds to poison yourself, so you can rest easy if you occasionally swallow one. Apples contain a compound called amygdalin in their seeds , which is a cyanide-and-sugar based molecule . If the seed is chewed or otherwise broken, human or animal enzymes come into contact with the amygdalin and effectively cut off the sugar part of the molecule. The remainder can then decompose to produce the poisonous gas hydrogen cyanide. What are symptoms of Cyanide toxicity? Cyanide toxicity is experienced by humans at doses of around 0.5–3.5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. Symptoms of cyanide poisoning include stomach cramps, headache, nausea and vomiting, and can culminate in cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, coma and death. A fatal dose for humans can be as low as 1.5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight . In a recent study, the amygdalin content of apple seeds was found to be approximately 3 milligrams p

  (105) Biology: Cell Structure I Nucleus Medical Media - YouTube