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SPICESBiology, History, Production, Uses

Janice Ott

He who controls the spice, controls the universe.

from Dune by Frank Herbert Sassafras

Sassafras albidumFood for birds,mammalsBeverage, teaExported by colonists (second to tobacco)Learned from Iroquoistonic after labortopical for rhematismcolds, fevers

FilE used for thickening gumbofrom dried, ground leaf

Root beerSoaps, perfumes1970s safrole liver damagePrecursor to MDMA (ecstasy)

Safrole is a weak carcinogen in rats

Banned by FDA

Roots donts have safroleAnalgesic, antiseptic, fungicideWhatAromatic natural productsthat are the dried seeds, buds, fruit, flower parts, bark, or roots of plants,usually of tropical origin.All spices are edible.Herbs are not spices, usually leaves. When dried, herbscan be a spice.HERBIVORYHerbivory is PredationInsects (adult and larvae), mammals, rodents, fungi

Leaf minerSap sucker, gall makersDefoliators

Galls

Bark BeetlesMammal Damage

deer

I. Plants ProblemDecrease fitnessDecrease vigor, biomassDecrease competitive edgeDecrease reproductionII. Plants Solution

1. thorns

Prickly Rose2. Secondary compoundsPrimary compounds are proteins, sugars, starches needed for growthWhen herbivory is high produce toxinsSecondary compounds

Black peppercinnamonnicotinea. Secondary compounds discourage herbivores1) tannins2) phenols (aromatics)3) terpenes (volatiles)

Alkaloids (affect nervous system)act as insecticides1. Morphine2. Cocaine (coca leaves)3. Caffeine allelopathy chocolate, tea4. Nicotine5. Mescaline (Peyote)6. Nutmeg7. Morning Glory8. NightshadesII. Terpenoidsall plants, volatile1. Essential oilsfragrance to deter pathogensdeter herbivoreshumans use for aromatherapyhumans use for topical medicine2. Taxoltreat ovarian and breast cancerfrom fungus on European yew3. Rubber Phenolsattract pollinators

Flavonoids, Flavins1. AnthocyaninsGrapes, berriesColor depends on pHHuman protect against heart disease, diabetes, cancer, agingSalicylic Acid Willow tree, aspirin, skin careHippocrates

Ligninadds strength to cell wallsWaterproofFungal attacksSecondary are toxic

Usually in specific vacuoles

Not every plant can produce every product

Only produced when neededPlants response to overgrazing

Fast growing plants protect juvenile partsSlow growing plants defend entire lifeSecondary compoundsb. suppress competitorsc. expensive only for valuable tissue (young) defense only when needed withdraw when no longer neededd. coevolutionHares10 yearVoles3-4 yearMoose10-30 year

Response: heavier shoots longer sprouts overgrowth at growing tips no flowers this yearIII. HerbivoryMost eaten: young, tender tips(papyriferic acid 2x in shoots)high carbon areasbirch, willow, aspen, poplarLeast eaten: alder, spruce, old wood

CoevolutionMilkweed is toxicHistoryAccidently Who????

Used to mask unpleasant

Moneycardamon = years wagespeppercorns = several slavesSpice Trade

383,000 BCEFirst record of trade Assyrians

2600 BCEEvidence pyramid builders had foreign spices

1550 BCEEbers papyrus lists spicesused for medicine and embalmingBible: Joseph sold to a spice caravan1750 BCE Hammurabi codesLists penalities for sloppy medicaluse of spices

1458 BCE Egyptian queen,Hatshepsut,visited Punt (modern Somalia) for spicesArabs controlled trade for centuries950 BCE caravans fromIndia to the Greeks

Incense Road

Caravan could take 2 years

Incense Road, Silk Road425 BCE Herodotusharvest cinnamon

331 BCE Alexander the Greatfounded Alexandria

80 BCE Ptolemy gave Alexandria to Romans

Arabs dominated until 1100 CE1298 CE Marco Polo traveledto China, found world aboutspice locations.

Spices became part of apothecary, crusaders brought spices back51

Vasco de Gama1498 CE first to reach India by sea

Most important eventPortugal and Spain 1493 Pope Alexander VI split1519-1522 MagellanCircumnavigate5 ships, only 1 left

Spain sold rights to Portugal,Portugal controlled spice trade Sir Francis Drake

British East India Company

1640 Dutch East India CompanyDutch seized Malaysia

1780 Dutch and English warEnglish controlOkay, okay, okay.

Whats in your cupboard?

Worldwide importanceMedieval every town had Pepper St.Pepper districtCanterbury Tales

Sailors = gold earring, bag of peppercorns

India>Pakistan, Afghanistan>Iran, Iraq, Syria>Turkey>Balkan States>Venice

Perfect for tradeVenice became strong nationDeveloped banking systemMedici Bank

Piper nigrumVine

Fruit is a drupeproduces 3rd yrcontinue 15 yrs

Originally S. IndiaCurrently 34% Vietnam

Turns red when ripe

PeppercornCooked and dried

Green =unripeWhite = ripe, soaked, outer removedBlack = half-ripe, dryManganeseVitamin KCopperFiberIronChromiumcalciumMedicineaid digestionstimulates taste budsincrease hydrochloric acidimprove appetitetreat coughs, coldscolicdiabetesanemiachewed for throat inflammationContains alkaloidspiperineCNS depressantanti-oxidantanti-fungalanti-flatulentdiureticbreakdown fat cells