Exercises in Natural Products

Code

Course teacher

Associate teachers

Status of the course

Course objectives

Acquisition of basic knowledge and working skills in organic laboratory, application of laboratory methods and techniques for isolation, purification and characterization of natural organic compounds.

Course enrolment requirements and entry competences required for the course

Enrolled in or passed the course Natural Products

Learning outcomes expected at the level of the course (4 to 10 learning outcomes)

After passing the course students will be able to:
- perform independently laboratory exercises according to laboratory procedures
- propose basic laboratory procedures for isolation of natural organic compounds from biological material based on knowledge gained throughout lectures in natural products (connect theoretical knowledge with experimental work)
- apply basic laboratory procedures and techniques for isolation and purification of natural products as well as their characterization
- set up appropriate apparatus for performing isolation of natural products from biological material and their purification
- record and interpret UV/VIS and FT-IR spectra

Course content broken down in detail by weekly class schedule (syllabus)

Exercises (2 hours weekly joined together in 6 lab periods):
Isolation of selected natural products.
1. Lipids. Isolation of fatty acids from natural fatty oil. Isolation of oleic acid from olive oil. (2 lab periods)
2. Carotenoids. Isolation of carotenes from tomato. Thin-layer chromatography of carotenes. (1 lab period)
3. Alkaloids. Isolation of piperine from black pepper. (2 lab periods)
4. Alkaloids. Isolation of caffeine from tea. (1 lab period)
5. Characterization of piperine and caffeine. Determination of melting point, thin-layer chromatography, UV/VIS and FT-IR spectroscopy. (1 lab period)

Format of instruction:

Student responsibilities

Students have to complete all planned laboratory exercises (100% of the times scheduled) and active participate in laboratory work.