[Latin Name] Valerian Officinalis I.

[Specification] Velerenic acid 0.8% HPLC

[Appearance] Brown powder

Plant Part Used: Root

[Particle size] 80Mesh

[Loss on drying] ≤5.0%

[Heavy Metal] ≤10PPM

[Storage] Store in cool & dry area, keep away from the direct light and heat.

[Shelf life] 24 Months

[Package] Packed in paper-drums and two plastic-bags inside.

[Net weight] 25kgs/drum

[What is Valerian?]

Valerian root (valeriana officinalis) is derived from a plant native to Europe and Asia. The root of this plant has been used for thousands of years as a remedy for various ailments including sleep problems, digestive problems, and disorders of the nervous system, headaches, and arthritis. It is believed that valerian root has an impact on the availability of the neurotransmitter GABA in the brain.

[Function]

1. Beneficial for insomnia
2. FOR ANXIETY
3. AS A SEDATIVE
4. FOR OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)
5. FOR DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS
6. FOR MIGRAINE FEADACHES
7. FOR HYPERACTIVITY AND FOCUS IN CHILDREN

A song about Macromolecules (a.k.a. Biomolecules, Carbon-Based Molecules, or the molecules of life) and Nutrition (Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleic Acids), based on PSY’s “Gangnam Style.”

Lyrics written by and song sung by a simple high school science teacher named Mr. Hsu.

Special thanks to Mr. Moore, Mrs. O’Brien, Mr. Kelly, Mrs. Wiemer, Mr. Walker, Mrs. Bourisseau, and Mrs. Brem for helping out by dancing and being filmed!

mp3 available:

Captions are available so you know what is actually being taught and sung (feel free to turn off or on).

This song and video have been made solely for educational purposes. Its level of depth and detail into various macromolecules (biomolecules) are aimed at High School Biology students (at least the ones I teach). If you find errors or omissions (i.e. I didn’t discuss enzymes), this is due to the fact that I’m trying to make a song that appeals to students, AND I’m being constrained by describing a relatively complex topic through a highly repetitive song that was originally written in Korean.

Of course, a big reason for making this video was to perform the dance and film it.

I also performed this song for my students in class before our macromolecule test. If you’re lucky, you might find a video of such a live performance somehwere in the vast internet (quite a few of them were recording me singing and dancing it in class, after all). A powerpoint goes with this, as well, so that the words and education I am trying to get through are more clear.

Lyrics:

Molecules Gone Wild!
Bio Style!

Carbohydrates provide the energy for your life!
The simplest form, like glucose, is known as a monosaccharide
Combine two, and make a larger sugar called disaccharide
The largest is a polysaccharide!

Lipids are the fats!
3 fatty acids with a glycerol make up the fats:
Triglycerides with only single bonds are saturated fats,
But if there’re double bonds they now become unsaturated fats
Don’t eat too much fat!

Monomers build to polymers filled
With C, H, O! Hey!
Molecule’s macro! Hey!

One with HO, other with H, so
Bond and go! Hey!
Release H2O! Hey!

Dehydration Synthesis is underway!!!

Molecules Gone Wild!
Bio Style
Mol-Mol-Mol-Mol Molecules Gone Wild!
Bio Style
Mol-Mol-Mol-Mol Molecules Gone Wild!

Many Polymers-mers-mers-mers:
Molecules Gone Wild!
Many Polymers-mers-mers-mers!

Proteins: the building blocks that make up your whole body
Your skin, your hair, your muscles – need protein to get the hotties!
Break down polypeptide to amino acids in your body
Nitrogen comes to the party!

Nucleic Acids!
The famous one is DNA that’s known by all you kids
With 2 polynucleotide chains linked to make it valid,
Which breaks into single nucleotides when it’s digested;
Phosphorous added!

When you eat food, to get in the mood (to study),
Molecules will flow! Hey!
Straight down your throat! Hey!

Need to break those big polymers, so
Here’s H2O! Hey!
Splits to H and O! Hey!

Hydrolysis is what I just now displayed!!!

Molecules Gone Wild!
Bio Style
Mol-Mol-Mol-Mol Molecules Gone Wild!
Bio Style
Mol-Mol-Mol-Mol Molecules Gone Wild!

Many Polymers-mers-mers-mers:
Molecules Gone Wild!
Many Polymers-mers-mers-mers!

Food deforms
Into its simplest forms!
When you eat it, break it down,
Then it reforms!

Now you’re informed!
So please study more!
Study, Study,
Read your notes and textbook

You know what I’m saying?

Molecules Gone Wild!

Many Polymers-mers-mers-mers:
Molecules Gone Wild!
Many Polymers-mers-mers-mers!

Molecules Gone Wild!

QAAFI Science Seminar

Presented by Prof. Mike Gidley
Director of Centre for Nutrition & Food Sciences at QAAFI

ABSTRACT

Plant cell walls and associated polysaccharides (a.k.a. dietary fibre) play a pivotal role in the digestion of a healthy diet, mostly as the defining structural characteristic of whole grains, fruits, nuts, and vegetables. Credible hypotheses can be constructed to link cell wall properties of these plant-based foods to reduction in risk factors for major non-communicable diseases.

The physical properties of plant cell wall polysaccharide components relevant to digestive tract functionality can be grouped into (i) bulk structuring, (ii) transport barriers, and (iii) molecular binding. Examples of each type of functionality from both in vitro and in vivo studies will be presented.

The conventional sub-division of dietary fibre into soluble and insoluble types disguises the reality that the physical form of plant cell walls in digesta is typically intermediate between the extremes of dissolved polymers and non-swollen solid particles which are often used to exemplify soluble and insoluble fibre fractions. An alternative method of categorising dietary fibres is proposed based on a combination of particle/molecule size and effective density.

About Prof. Mike Gidley

Prof. Gidley obtained a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Chemistry, at the University of London in 1977 and went on to complete his PhD in Chemistry at the University of Cambridge in 1982.

Before establishing CNAFS in 2003 (a joint initiative between UQ and the Queensland Government), Prof. Gidley worked for Unilever Research in the United Kingdom for more than 20 years, beginning as a research scientist and culminating as the Group Leader for Plant-based Foods and Ingredients.

Prof. Gidley’s major research interest is the linking of plant molecular structures to macroscopic properties with relevance to plant-based food properties. In particular, Prof. Gidley is interested in investigating polysaccharide assemblies such as plant cell walls (as part of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls and starch granules, particularly the way these structures are assembled in nature and then disassembled during manufacturing and later during digestion.

Prof. Gidley’s field of research involves the use of spectroscopic, microscopic and materials analyses of natural materials and model systems. Insights into structure-property relationships are obtained and can then be used to provide targets for raw materials and processes with enhanced food and nutritional properties.