Secondary metabolism
• TERPENES: classification and biogenetic origin. Monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, triterpenes, steroids
• ALKALOIDS: classification and biosynthesis. Main skeletons: alkaloids derived from lysine and ornithine, pyrrolidine and pyrrolizidine alkaloids, tropane alkaloids, quinoline and isoquinoline, alcaloidi morfinanici, indole alkaloids
• GLYCOSIDES: classification. Triterpene and steroid saponins
• AROMATIC COMPOUNDS: flavonoids, anthraquinones, coumarins, cinnamic acids
Active principles and vegetable drugs
• Factors influencing the content of active principles in vegetable drugs
• Conservation of vegetable drugs
• Extraction techniques
• Screening methodologies of active principles in vegetable drugs (alkaloids, saponins, cardiotonic glycosides, flavonoids, coumarins, anthraquinones)
• Isolation of active principles from vegetable drugs
• Main analytic techniques for the determination of active principles in vegetable drugs