Enjoyed your Easter chocolate? Well, if like me you are still working on it (😉), please sit down and appreciate a piece of this heavenly food while reading about theobromine. This compound is the main alkaloid of Theobroma cacao (cacao tree) and it is therefore found in chocolate, especially in the dark one [1], whereasContinue reading “Theobromine, a chemical from the «food of the gods»”
Author Archives: monicascognamiglio
Current Analytical Methods in Phytochemistry
Are you working or planning to work in Phytochemistry? Please join my colleagues and me on March the 15th at 4 pm on zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89025985244?pwd=UFE4MEh6bVFxb1ExajZoNVVQMDY5Zz09. Here the detailed program of the webinar
Natural vs Chemical
After a long break, PhytoChem is back and needs your help! Before working on my next post, I want to hear your opinion about the topic “Natural vs Chemical”. Here (clicking on the figure below), you’ll find a poll that will be open till next sunday, please answer and share! Italian version here:
O Tannenbaum
The decoration of Christmas trees is a tradition started in Germany during the Renaissance. However, its roots go far back in time; evergreen plants had a special meaning in many cultures long before the advent of Christianity. Nowadays, decorating a tree with garlands, baubles, tinsel, candy canes, blinking lights (or candles), etc. is a worldwideContinue reading “O Tannenbaum”
It’s beginning to smell a lot like Christmas
Smells and aromas are profoundly evocative. Those related to Christmas are often connected to our childhood, able to bring us back (at least with the memory) to that awesome time of our lives. This year, we need more than ever this powerful tool to escape at least for a little bit the harsh present reality.WhatContinue reading “It’s beginning to smell a lot like Christmas”
The king of the Mediterranean region
Autumn in the South of Italy means a lot of nice things: a still relatively warm weather, the bright warm colours of leaves of deciduous plants slowly turning into a colourful carpet, the smell of roasted chestnuts in the streets, etc. This time of the year is also linked to a very important economic activity:Continue reading “The king of the Mediterranean region”
Solanine, the toxic compound in potatoes
Memories of a summer evening (yeah, I still cannot get over the idea that summer is gone), preparing dinner. A question about solanine in tomatoes comes up. A long discussion about solanine, tomatine and other glycoalkaloids produced by Solanaceae plants starts.It seems a nerdy conversation, and maybe it is, but it is actually also aContinue reading “Solanine, the toxic compound in potatoes”
Something against autumn blues…
Summer is almost over in Italy, but before moving on to the next season, I would like to talk about a plant that is somehow strongly connected to summer: Saint John’s Wort. Plants are wonderful organisms and some of their features make them look like magical beings to humans. If we have a look atContinue reading “Something against autumn blues…”
Capsaicin, the painfully hot feeding deterrent…that we love adding to our food
Some days ago, an attorney general in the USA claimed that pepper spray is not a chemical irritant. No idea if he was grasping at straws in a hopeless attempt to justify the use of the spray against protesters, or if this claim was a result of his ignorance. In fact, pepper spray is highlyContinue reading “Capsaicin, the painfully hot feeding deterrent…that we love adding to our food”
What fascinates you about plant natural product chemistry?
Plants are excellent chemists and fascinating organisms. I realized this early during my studies. However, if I were to recall when exaclty I became interested in the topic, I cannot really say it. I think that my first “experiments” in phytochemistry date back to when I was a kid. I used to wander in myContinue reading “What fascinates you about plant natural product chemistry?”
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