PHYTOCHEMISTRY BIOC 311
Dr. Karori Mbuthia, PhD
, Class Description
Welcome to Phytochemistry, where we will cover the various types of biologically active
compounds of plant origin; quinones, quinines, steroids and alkaloids; biosynthesis of these
compounds; the mode and action of their activity; the role of these compounds in pharmacology
and pesticide industry.
I. Course Instructor
Dr. Karori Mbuthia S.
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Egerton University, Njoro Campus
E-mail: ,
II. Class Delivery
Students registered in the class can access Blackboard Learning Systems, Discussions,
power point slides and Lecture notes.
There are two components to this class.
1. Lectures: There are 45 lectures Hours as indicated in the curriculum which will be divided in
to three hours a week for 15 weeks as scheduled in the timetable.
1
,The lectures cover a broad range of biochemical topics, most of which are well
covered in the course outline below;
1. Primary and secondary metabolism in plants.
2. Building blocks of phytochemicals –C1, C2, C5, C6C3, C6C2N, Indole C2N, C4N, C5N.
3. The shikimate pathway.
a. Coumarins
b. Flavonoids and stilbenes
c. Terpenoids quinines
d. Isoflavonoids
e. Plastoquinone, Vit E and phylloquinones
4. The mevalonate and deoxyxylulose phosphate pathways.
a. Terpenoids (monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, tetraterpenes).
b. Steroids (cholesterol, steroidal sapononis, cardiac glycosides).
5. Alkaloids- tropane alkaloids, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, pyridine alkaloids,
phenylethylamines and isoquinoline alkaloids, imidazole alkaloids, steroidal alkaloids,
purine alkaloids.
2. Assignments:
There are two assignments which must be submitted before final examination.
Assignments are expected to be an individual effort. Please be sure that you are
familiar with the policy on plagiarism before submitting.
2
, III. Required Text
1. Medicinal Natural Products; A biosynthetic approach. 2nd edition by Paul M Dewick.
ISBN 0 471 49640 5
2. Principles of Biochemistry, 4th edition, 2006, by H.R. Horton, L.A. Moran,
K.G. Scrimgeour, M.D. Perry & J.D. Rawn; Prentice Hall.
3. Biochemistry 5th edition by Berg Jeremy, Tymoczko John and Lubert Stryer. ISBN: 978-
0716746843
4. Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry 6th edition by David L. Nelson and Michael Cox.
ISBN: 978-1429234146
As preparation for each lecture, it is highly recommended that you read over the
relevant text book material, so that you are generally familiar with the topics to be
covered. Then, after each lecture, review the material in depth, along with your
lecture notes, in order to be sure that you understand it
Biochemistry is an interdisciplinary subject. To fully understand some aspects of
biochemistry, you may need to consult text books of organic chemistry and medicinal
products.
Classroom Behavior and Student Code of Conduct:
Students are expected to respect and follow standards of student conduct while in class and on
the campus. As your instructor, I have the following expectations concerning your behavior in
this class:
1. Promote a courteous learning atmosphere by exhibiting mutual respect and consideration of
the feelings, ideas, and contributions of others.
2. Practice consideration for others by maintaining a clean and orderly classroom.
3. Recognize everyone’s opportunity to contribute information in a relevant and meaningful
manner by not monopolizing discussions, interrupting, interjecting irrelevant, illogical or
inappropriate questions or comments.
4. Do not dominate class discussion––give others a chance to contribute!
3
Dr. Karori Mbuthia, PhD
, Class Description
Welcome to Phytochemistry, where we will cover the various types of biologically active
compounds of plant origin; quinones, quinines, steroids and alkaloids; biosynthesis of these
compounds; the mode and action of their activity; the role of these compounds in pharmacology
and pesticide industry.
I. Course Instructor
Dr. Karori Mbuthia S.
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Egerton University, Njoro Campus
E-mail: ,
II. Class Delivery
Students registered in the class can access Blackboard Learning Systems, Discussions,
power point slides and Lecture notes.
There are two components to this class.
1. Lectures: There are 45 lectures Hours as indicated in the curriculum which will be divided in
to three hours a week for 15 weeks as scheduled in the timetable.
1
,The lectures cover a broad range of biochemical topics, most of which are well
covered in the course outline below;
1. Primary and secondary metabolism in plants.
2. Building blocks of phytochemicals –C1, C2, C5, C6C3, C6C2N, Indole C2N, C4N, C5N.
3. The shikimate pathway.
a. Coumarins
b. Flavonoids and stilbenes
c. Terpenoids quinines
d. Isoflavonoids
e. Plastoquinone, Vit E and phylloquinones
4. The mevalonate and deoxyxylulose phosphate pathways.
a. Terpenoids (monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, tetraterpenes).
b. Steroids (cholesterol, steroidal sapononis, cardiac glycosides).
5. Alkaloids- tropane alkaloids, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, pyridine alkaloids,
phenylethylamines and isoquinoline alkaloids, imidazole alkaloids, steroidal alkaloids,
purine alkaloids.
2. Assignments:
There are two assignments which must be submitted before final examination.
Assignments are expected to be an individual effort. Please be sure that you are
familiar with the policy on plagiarism before submitting.
2
, III. Required Text
1. Medicinal Natural Products; A biosynthetic approach. 2nd edition by Paul M Dewick.
ISBN 0 471 49640 5
2. Principles of Biochemistry, 4th edition, 2006, by H.R. Horton, L.A. Moran,
K.G. Scrimgeour, M.D. Perry & J.D. Rawn; Prentice Hall.
3. Biochemistry 5th edition by Berg Jeremy, Tymoczko John and Lubert Stryer. ISBN: 978-
0716746843
4. Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry 6th edition by David L. Nelson and Michael Cox.
ISBN: 978-1429234146
As preparation for each lecture, it is highly recommended that you read over the
relevant text book material, so that you are generally familiar with the topics to be
covered. Then, after each lecture, review the material in depth, along with your
lecture notes, in order to be sure that you understand it
Biochemistry is an interdisciplinary subject. To fully understand some aspects of
biochemistry, you may need to consult text books of organic chemistry and medicinal
products.
Classroom Behavior and Student Code of Conduct:
Students are expected to respect and follow standards of student conduct while in class and on
the campus. As your instructor, I have the following expectations concerning your behavior in
this class:
1. Promote a courteous learning atmosphere by exhibiting mutual respect and consideration of
the feelings, ideas, and contributions of others.
2. Practice consideration for others by maintaining a clean and orderly classroom.
3. Recognize everyone’s opportunity to contribute information in a relevant and meaningful
manner by not monopolizing discussions, interrupting, interjecting irrelevant, illogical or
inappropriate questions or comments.
4. Do not dominate class discussion––give others a chance to contribute!
3
