Seeds of Hope is a series of free, plant-focused health and wellness events designed to turn knowledge into practical opportunities. Each event focuses on one of the plants I have been growing
Chlorophyll is the natural green pigment that allows plants to capture light energy for photosynthesis. It is responsible for much of the green colour found in leaves, herbs, grasses, and many vegetables
Zeaxanthin is a naturally occurring carotenoid, belonging to the subgroup known as xanthophylls. It is produced by plants and other photosynthetic organisms and contribu
Category: Carotenoids
Lutein is a naturally occurring xanthophyll carotenoid, a group of plant pigments found especially in green leaves and some yellow, orange, and red plant foods. In green plants, lutein is often hidden visually by the much
Category: Terpenoids & Volatile Oils
Compound Type: Sesquiterpene
Farnesene refers to a group of naturally occurring volatile compounds belonging to the sesquiterpene family. The two main forms are α-farnesene (alpha-farnesene) and β-farnesene (beta-farnesene), with several structural forms occurring naturally.
Farnesenes are produced by many plants and contribute to aroma, plant defence, chemical communication and interactions with insects. β-Farnesene is particularly interesting because one form, (E)-β-farnesene, also functions as an alarm pheromone in many aphid species.
From a health and wellness perspective, farnesene is an interesting plant compound, but research into its direct effects in humans remains limited. Much of the available evidence comes from laboratory studies, animal research or studies of essential oils and plant extracts containing farnesene alongside many other compounds.
Farnesene has bee
Ocimene is a naturally occurring monoterpene, a type of volatile organic compound produced by many plants. It contributes to the aroma of herbs, flowers, fruits, and other vegetation and is often associated with sweet, fresh, green, floral, and herbaceous scents.
The term ocimene can refer to several closely related compounds, including α-ocimene and β-ocimene. β-Ocimene can occur in different forms, including (E)-β-ocimene and (Z)-β-ocimene.
Ocimene is particularly interesting because its role extends beyond aroma. Plants can release β-ocimene as part of their natural chemical communication systems, including interactions involving insects, pollinators, neighbouring plants, and environmental stresses.
For the Wellness Profiles, ocimene provides another example of how the natural aromas produced by plants are connected to complex plant chemistry.
Research into ocimene itself is still developing. Compared with better-studied plant
Citral is a naturally occurring aromatic plant compound belonging to the monoterpene aldehydes, part of the larger family of terpenoids and volatile plant compounds.
It is best known for contributing a strong, fresh lemon-like aroma to many plants. Citral is particularly abundant in plants such as lemongrass, but it can also occur in smaller or more variable amounts in other aromatic herbs, including Sweet Basil.
Citral is actually a mixture of two closely related compounds:
Together, geranial and neral are commonly referred to as citral.
Citral is interesting from a health and wellness perspective because researchers have investigated its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. However, much of this research comes from laboratory and animal studies, so potential therapeutic effects should not automatically be in
Methyl chavicol, more commonly known as estragole, is a naturally occurring aromatic plant compound found in a variety of herbs and other plants. It contributes to the characteristic sweet, herbal, anise-like or licorice-like aroma of plants such as basil, tarragon, fennel and anise.
Although included in the Terpenoids & Volatile Oils section of the Wellness Profiles because it occurs within the volatile aromatic fraction of plants, estragole is more precisely classified as a phenylpropanoid and alkenylbenzene, rather than a true terpene.
Estragole is particularly useful for understanding plant-based health and wellness because it demonstrates an important principle: the presence of a natural compound does not automatically mean that consuming that compound in concentrated or isolated form provides the same experience, benefits or safety profile as using the whole plant.
Estragole
1,8-Cineole, also widely known as eucalyptol, is a naturally occurring aromatic plant compound belonging to the monoterpene family.
It contributes to the fresh, cooling, camphor-like aroma associated with plants such as eucalyptus, rosemary, sage, peppermint and some members of the mint family.
Plants produce volatile compounds such as 1,8-cineole as part of their natural chemistry. The amount present can vary considerably depending on the plant species, variety, growing conditions, geographic location, maturity and other factors.
For health and wellness research, 1,8-cineole is particularly interesting because of its connections with respiratory function, inflammation, antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity. Research has included both laboratory studies and human clinical research, particularly involving respiratory conditions.
Wellness Profiles — Terpenoids & Volatile Oils
Geraniol is a naturally occurring aromatic compound found in the essential oils of many herbs and flowering plants. It belongs to a group of plant compounds known as monoterpenes, specifically a monoterpene alcohol.
If you have ever noticed the sweet, floral, rose-like fragrance of certain herbs, flowers or essential oils, geraniol may be one of the compounds contributing to that aroma.
Geraniol is particularly interesting from a health and wellness perspective because researchers have investigated its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, neuroprotective and cardiovascular effects. However, much of this research remains laboratory or animal based, so geraniol should not be considered a treatment for disease based on current evidence.
Geraniol is an acyclic monoterpene alcohol produced naturally by many aromatic plants.
Plants
Wellness Profiles — Polyphenols & Flavonoids
Vicenin is the name given to a small group of naturally occurring plant flavonoids. The best studied is Vicenin-2 (Vicenin II), also known as apigenin-6,8-di-C-glucoside.
Vicenin-2 belongs to the flavone C-glycosides, meaning that the flavonoid apigenin is connected to sugar molecules through particularly stable carbon-to-carbon bonds.
Plants produce compounds such as Vicenin-2 partly as protection against environmental stresses. Research has even demonstrated concentrations of Vicenin-2 near the surface of leaves and proposed that it can act as a natural UV-light barrier, helping protect plant tissues from intense sunlight.
For human health and wellness, Vicenin-2 is attracting scientific interest because laboratory and preclinical research has investigated its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, metabolic and tissue-protective properties. These areas of research are p
Wellness Profiles — Polyphenols & Flavonoids
Orientin is a naturally occurring flavonoid found in a variety of plants. More specifically, it is a flavone C-glycoside known chemically as luteolin-8-C-glucoside.
Orientin is closely related to isoorientin (luteolin-6-C-glucoside). Although their chemical structures are very similar, they are distinct compounds because the glucose portion is attached at a different position.
Research into orientin has focused on its potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular, metabolic and neuroprotective properties. These areas make orientin particularly interesting from a health and wellness perspective, although much of the available evidence comes from laboratory and animal research rather than large human clinical trials.
One of the most studied characteristics of orientin is its antioxidant activity.
Our bodies naturally produce reactive oxygen species during normal metabolism. Environmental exposures and o
Section: Polyphenols & Flavonoids
Chicoric acid, also commonly spelled cichoric acid, is a naturally occurring plant compound belonging to the broader family of polyphenols. More specifically, it is a caffeic acid derivative formed from caffeic acid and tartaric acid.
Research into chicoric acid has focused on its antioxidant activity and its potential influence on inflammation, immune responses, glucose metabolism, and other cellular processes. Much of the research examining specific therapeutic effects remains laboratory- or animal-based, so these findings should not be interpreted as proof that chicoric acid can prevent or treat disease.
For the Wellness Profiles, chicoric acid is most useful as another example of the diverse phytochemicals naturally present within plants and plant-based foods.
One of the most studied characteristics of chicoric acid is its antioxidant activity.
Our bodies naturally produce reactive molecules during metabolism and
Terpenoids are one of the largest and most diverse families of naturally occurring plant compounds. They are found throughout the plant world and perform important functions in plant growth, protection, communication, aroma and interactions with the surrounding environment.
For health and wellness, terpenoids are particularly interesting because researchers have identified a wide range of biological activities among individual compounds, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity. However, terpenoids are an enormous group, and the properties of one compound should not automatically be applied to every other terpenoid or every plant containing them.
Understanding terpenoids can help us better understand why plants have certain aromas, flavours and biological properties—and why looking at the chemistry of a plant can provide a more complete picture of its potential role in health and wellness.
Te
Saponins are a diverse group of naturally occurring plant compounds found in many herbs, vegetables, legumes and other plants. They are particularly interesting for health and wellness because research has explored their potential roles in cholesterol metabolism, inflammation, antioxidant activity, immune responses and interactions with microorganisms.
The name saponin comes from the Latin sapo, meaning soap. Some saponin-rich plant materials produce a noticeable foam when mixed or shaken with water. This happens because saponins have chemical structures that can interact with both water and fats.
For the Wellness Profiles, saponins demonstrate an important principle:
A naturally occurring plant compound can have useful biological properties while still requiring attention to the plant, preparation, concentration and amount consumed.
Saponins are glycosides, meaning they contain one or more sugar components attached to a non-sugar
Tannins are a large and diverse family of naturally occurring polyphenolic plant compounds. They are found throughout the plant world, including in leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, bark and roots.
If you have ever experienced the dry, puckering sensation produced by strong tea, certain berries or an unripe fruit, you have experienced one of the most recognizable characteristics of tannins: astringency. Tannins readily interact with proteins, including proteins in saliva, which helps explain this sensation.
For health and wellness, however, tannins are much more interesting than their taste. Research has investigated tannins for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, digestive, cardiovascular and metabolic effects, while their interactions with the gut microbiome are becoming an increasingly important area of study.
Tannins are not one individual chemical. The word describes a broad collection of relat
Wellness Profiles — Polyphenols & Flavonoids
Phenolic acids are a widespread family of naturally occurring plant compounds found in vegetables, fruits, herbs, medicinal plants, grains, seeds, and many plants that grow naturally around us. They belong to the larger family of polyphenols and contribute to many of the protective properties plants use to cope with sunlight, environmental stress, pests, pathogens, and physical damage.
From a health and wellness perspective, phenolic acids are especially interesting because of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity and their potential relationships with cardiovascular, metabolic, cellular, digestive, and neurological health. Research continues to investigate how individual phenolic acids and combinations of these compounds interact with the human body.
One of the practical advantages of learning about phenolic acids is that they are not confined to unusual or expensive plants. They occur throughout the plant kingdom,
Allantoin is a naturally occurring nitrogen-containing compound found in a variety of plants. It is especially well known in skin care because of its association with skin conditioning, sooth
Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates made from many smaller sugar molecules joined together. They occur throughout plants, where they help store energy, form cell walls, ret
Hexahydroxydiphenoyl-containing tannins are a group of complex plant polyphenols associated particularly with ellagitannins, a family of hydrolyzable tannins found in a variety of plants and foods.
The long name comes from the hexahydroxydiphenoyl (HHDP) group, an important structural feature of many ellagitannins. Ellagitannins are characterized by one or more HHDP groups attached to a sugar molecule, usually glucose.
When HHDP-containing tannins are broken down, the HHDP portion can form ellagic acid. Ellagic acid can then be further transformed by microorganisms living within the digestive system into compounds known as urolithins.
This makes HHDP-containing tannins particularly interesting for health and wellness because we are not simply looking at what exists in a plant. We are also looking at what happens to those compounds after the plant is eaten and how they may interact with digestion, the gut microbiome and the rest of the body.
