What is Vitamin C all about ?

Vitamin C also called ascorbic acid, is a water soluble nutrient that is easily excreted from the body when not needed. Humans vary greatly in their in their Vitamin C requirement. The amount of vitamin c found in food is also varies dramatically. It cannot be manufactured by the human body then must be ingested via foods, such as citrus fruits. Vitamin  C also serve as the major nutritional supplements.

       

Vitamin C is needed for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of our body. Besides that, it also helps body make collagen, an important protein used to make skin, cartilage, tendons and ligaments. It is also needed for healing wounds and for repairing bones and teeth. However, lack of Vitamin C will effect high blood pressure, stroke, atherosclerosis, the build-up plaque in blood vessels that can lead to heart attack and stroke.

                                              

By consuming vegetables and fruits in our daily supplements which rich in Vitamin C may help to prevent from lack of Vitamin C diseases. Vitamin C can regenerate other antioxidants and act as an antioxidant itself. Therefore the need for Vitamin C is likely increased in those who exercise regularly.The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin C is 75 to 90 milligrams daily; although the body can tolerate up to 2,000 milligrams daily, it is better absorbed when taken in smaller amounts. It is most greatly concentrated in plant sources that is foods which are high in vitamin C include red bell peppers, kiwifruit, and broccoli but can also be found in animal food sources since many animals can synthesis this vitamin. An intake of 100 antioxidant that is linked to reduction of inflammatory diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension and cancer.

                       

Do you know there are how many types of Vitamin C ?

There are many different types of vitamin C such as sodium ascorbate, calcium ascorbate, potassium ascorbate, magnesium ascorbate and zinc ascorbate.

1. Sodium ascorbate : 1,000 mg of sodium ascorbate generally contains 111 mg of sodium. Individuals                                           following low-sodium diets example for high blood pressure are generally advised to                                     keep their total dietary sodium intake to less than 2,500 mg per day. It is also can be                                     used in cosmetics. Sodium Ascorbate is buffered (non-acidic) and will not contribute                                     to gastric irritation in acid-sensitive persons. Sodium Ascorbate is snythesized from a                                     combination of sodium bicarbonate and ascorbic acid to form sodium ascorbate.

                                                          

            

 2. Calcium ascorbate :  Calcium ascorbate generally provides 90-110 mg of calcium (890-910 mg of                                               ascorbic acid) per 1,000 mg of calcium per 1,000 mg of calcium ascorbate. This                                           ingredient mainly functions as an antioxidant in cosmetics products. It has many anti-                                     aging benefits including building collagen, defending the skin against free radicals,                                           healing inflammations, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and                                                 lightening discoloration. Besides that,it also is used as a food supplement source of                                         vitamin C and as an additive to keep fruits fresh.

                                            

                                       

3. Potassium           :   The minimal requirement for potassium is thought to be between                                      ascorbate                1.6 and 2.0 g per day. Fruits and vegetables are which rich in                                                                        potassium may provide as much as 8 to 11 g per day. Potassium ascorbate also                                            can be found in eye drops.

                                                                              

4.Magnesium          :    Magnesium Ascorbate provides both the essential magnesium                

     ascorbate               mineral and Vitamin C for the human body. Magnesium ascorbate is a buffered,                                            low-acid form of vitamin C which is more gentle on the stomach compared to the                                          acidic form of ascorbic acid. Magnesium Ascorbate is synthesized from                                                        a combination of ascorbic acid and magnesium to form magnesium ascorbate.                                                Magnesium ascorbate does not leach materials such as calcium and potassium                                              from the body.

                                                                                                 5. Zinc ascorbate     :   Zinc ascorbate is an antioxidant mineral and an immune booster. Zinc play an                                                important role in our immune system and other metabolic process. In addition, zinc                                        also required for the production of insulin and for maintaining a healthy liver system.                                      Zinc complex used in range of nutraceutical and  health care preparations like liquid.                                      It is water soluble and slightly hygroscopic spray.

                                                                                                           

Written by : Sathish Kumar A/L Letchumanan, Tanasha Azalea Suhandani, Chong Hui Qian and Lee Miaw                                                     Woon.

PERFUMES

Perfumes have a pleasant smell and they stimulate receptors in the nose. People like to use perfumes to make them smell nice and giving a good impression to others in daily life. We always use them , but do you know that the perfumes that  we use are related to organic chemistry too?

Perfumes are non-toxic chemical. People who wear it does not get poison and this can prevent the wearer suffer for skin rashes. It is insoluble in water but evaporates easily. Perfumes are categorize according to their concentration of essences or aromatic oils they contain. There are four types of perfumes, which are eau de cologne, eau de toilette and eau de parfum and perfume.

Eau de cologne contain about 7% essence dissolve in alcohol of 60º or 70º. It doesn’t last long and can reapplied directly to skin.

Eau de toilette contain up to 10%aromatic essence. It evaporates and fade away quite quickly.

Eau de parfum  contain over 15% concentration of oils, sometimes reaching as high as 20%. Can be used to spray on hair or clothing.

Perfume contain 40% high concentration of essences. The average concentration of essence in a perfume is 25%, which makes it the longest lasting of all the scent categories.

Due to the high concentration of essences in perfume, wearing perfume is last longer than wearing eau de cologne or eau de toilette. Perfume are made up by the mixture of fragrant essential oils, or aroma compound , fixatives and solvents. Also, Ester are used in perfumes , it is made by reacting an alcohol with an organic acid.

Esters are chemicals with pleasant smells. It occur naturally but can be made in laboratory by condensing an alcohol with an organic acid which at least one -OH (hydroxyl) group is replaced by an -O-alkyl (alkoxy) group. This reaction is called as esterification.

Word Equation:

                Alcohol  +  organic acid  →  ester  +  water

Different kind of alcohol and organic acid will form different kind of names and smells of ester.

Alcohol          Organic acid           Ester made              Smell of ester

pentanol          ethanoic acid           pentyl ethanoate          pears

octanol            ethanoic acid           octyl ethanoate             bananas

pentanol          butanoic acid           pentyl butanoate          strawberries

methanol         butanoic acid           methyl butanoate         pineapples

For example:

            Methanol  +  Butanoic acid  →  Methyl Butanoate  +  Water

This video has explained how esterification reaction occurs and how different kind of smells of perfumes made:

Written by: Tanasha Azalea Suhandani, Lee Miaw Woon, Chong Hui Qian, Sathish Kumar Letchumanan

Paracetamol

Introduction to Medicine

Medicine is a substance used to prevent or cure diseases or to reduce pain and suffering due to illnesses. Modern medicine can be classified as follows based on their effects on the human body : 

(i)   Analgesics , 

(ii)  Antibiotics , 

(iii) Psychotherapeutic drugs.

Example of modern medicine :

•                 Analgesics : Aspirin, Paracetamol, Codeine
•      Antibiotics : Penicillin, Streptomycin
•      Psychotherapeutic drugs : Stimulant, Antidepressant, Antipsychotic

Analgesics

Analgesics are medicine that relieve pain but not cure disease. Analgesics are called painkiller. Aspirin and paracetamol is mild painkiller whereas codeine is powerful painkiller.

Paracetamol

Paracetamol  is classified as a mild analgesic. Paracetamol is neutral in nature, unlike aspirin. It is commonly used for relief pain, headaches, muscle aches and joint ache. It also used for reduces or relieves flu symptoms (fever, running nose or bone ache).It relives pain in mild arthritis but has no effect on the underlying inflammation and swelling of the joint. Panadol is an example of paracetamol.

Structural formula :

Type of paracetamol :

•  Tablets
• Caplets
•  Capsules
• Soluble tablets(dissolve in water)
• An oral suspension (liquid medicine)
• Suppositories,which are inserted into your anus (the opening through which waste leaves your body)

                                                   Soluble tablet

An oral suspension

Tablet

Capsule

Caplets

Suppositories

Important Information about Paracetamol :

The maximum amount of paracetamol for adults is 1 gram (1000mg) per dose and 4 grams (4000mg) per day. Taking too more paracetamol could cause liver damage. In a few cases, even normal taking can also cause the same serious consequences. In particular, this risk will vary alcoholic drinks increased. In many Western countries, such poisoning can cause serious liver failure is the main reason, especially the United States, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, the majority of overdose are this. If you are allergic to paracetamol, do not use this medication. Or if you have liver disease, kidney problem or  a history of alcoholism, you may ask doctor first before take this medication.






Written by: Tanasha Azalea Suhandani, Lee Miaw Woon, Chong Hui Qian, Sathish Kumar Letchumanan

Got a milk or two?

For most of us, milk is considered as a healthy daily consumption. In this blog post, we will cover the about this most commonly consumed products. 

First things first, what is milk? 

Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of the mammal. They are a part of the organic chemistry as they contain the lactose sugar which contains the C-H bond in the compound, and as we know, anything that has carbon-related compounds are considered as an organic compound. The β-1,4-glycosidic linkage helps in joining the two sugars: glucose and galactose. 

 

Milk also plays its role in our healthy daily lifestyle due to it being considered as the most nutritionally complete food ever found in nature. In relation to this, there are a lot of benefits that we can gain from consuming milk.

How is milk actually made? 

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OTHER facts about milk processing:
-> Most cows produce more milk when they are listening to music

-        -> During the process, milk is fortified with vitamin A and D, this process is also known as fortification. 

Please find the Youtube link below to further explain the process of milk processing

-       Some advantages of milk

-      The generous vitamin D giver

Milk contains vitamin D which helps the body’s absorption of calcium. Calcium is an essential part to healthy bones and teeth as it is also helping muscles and nerves to function properly.

-      Milk drinkers tend to be thinner

 

Well, doesn’t that sound interesting? Milk doesn’t directly contribute in one’s body weight, but rather by incorporating it into the daily lifestyle will lead to a healthier diet. This will then eventually lead to many benefits, including obtaining a healthier and suitable weight.

-      Milk protein as the first antidote to take for heavy metal poisoning
Heavy metal poisoning is caused when a foreign object such as metal enters the body through ingestion, inhalation and absorption through skin membranes. Once they were absorbed into the body, they will fight with the ions and combine with the protein causing denaturation to the enzymes. Milk is used as an antidote to this as it readily took place of the protein in the body, hence the body’s enzymes won’t get denatured by the metal ions. 

Not only advantages, there are also some arguments relating to the consumption of dairy products, including milk.

Disadvantages:

-      Consuming too much of milk = higher chance of obtaining osteoporosis

“Too much of anything is bad”.

This argument is supported by the fact that milk is also high in protein. Excess protein in the diet may cause calcium to drain out of the bones, hence causing osteoporosis. Something that was meant beneficial for the bones can mean harm to it if used excessively. A recommended daily intake of milk should range between 3-8 oz. glasses of milk per day.

-      Incompatibility with human’s digestive system
Dairy milk is obtained from the mammals, which means that it was produced for the baby animals only and not for the human’s digestive system. This is quite a logical reason. This is supported by the fact that milk can cause some problems including diarrhea and milk allergy to human overtime. Milk allergy can be caused due to intolerance to lactose, which is a situation where the enzymes used to digest lactose are not present in our body system hence milk couldn’t be digested properly. Other research has also stated that the casein (animal milk protein) in milk which is treated as an ‘enemy’ by our body system. This doesn’t mean that consuming milk would be a dangerous thing, but rather making it as a main source of nutrition instead of a sub-source of nutrition will lead to certain problems.

 Written by: Tanasha Azalea Suhandani, Lee Miaw Woon, Chong Hui Qian, Sathish Kumar Letchumanan