HerbalPedia.info Lecture Notes and Glossary

Terpenes are widespread in nature, mainly in plants as constituents of essential oils. Many terpenes are hydrocarbons, but oxygen-containing compounds such as alcohols, aldehydes or ketones (terpenoids) are also found. Their building block is the hydrocarbon isoprene, CH₂=C(CH₃)-CH=CH₂.

Isoprene

Terpene hydrocarbons therefore have molecular formulas (C₅H₈)_n, they are classified according to the number of isoprene units:

number of isoprene units

monoterpenes                                   2

sesquiterpenes                                  3

diterpenes                                         4

triterpenes                                        6

tetraterpenes                                   8

Examples of monoterpenes are: pinene, nerol, citral, camphor, menthol, limonene. Examples of sesquiterpenes are: nerolidol, farnesol. Examples of diterpenes are: phytol, vitamin A₁. Squalene is an example of a triterpene, and carotene (provitamin A₁) is a tetraterpene.

Monoterpenes- (Cherries, citrus fruit peel oils, caraway, dill, spearmint, lemongrass) – Lower risk of breast, skin, liver, lung, stomach, and pancreas cancers.

Professional Herbalism Certificate Course Module 3 by KP Khalsa, page 188.

Hyperemesis gravidarum is a condition characterized by severe nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and electrolyte disturbance

Hyperemesis gravidarum vs Morning Sickness

see Reproductive Lecture notes

Signs and symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum:

• Severe nausea and vomiting
• Food aversions
• Weight loss of 5% or more of pre-pregnancy weight
• Decrease in urination
• Dehydration
• Headaches
• Confusion
• Fainting
• Jaundice
• Extreme fatigue
• Low blood pressure
• Rapid heart rate
• Loss of skin elasticity
• Secondary anxiety/depression

Reference: American Pregnancy Association / Hyperemesis gravidarum

Phytoestrogen is any plant compound structurally and/or functionally similar to ovarian and placental estrogens and their active metabolites

Compounds may have agonistic, partial agonistic, and
antagonistic interactions with estrogen receptors and other targets of estrogenic steroids involved in estrogen transport, synthesis and metabolism

reference: slide 281 of reproductive

History of Phytoestrogens

Phytoestrogens are found in ˃300 plants
Associated with reduction in chronic diseases

More on Phytogestrogens in Lecture Notes