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Classes and sources of natural products, with an emphasis on extracted components such as microbial metabolites or essential oils from plants, are described and characterised. Cultural issues surrounding the ownership and use of native flora and fauna. The design, operation, performance and advantages/disadvantages of current production methods such as steam distillation and solvent extraction are described. Laboratory practical exercises in extraction and analysis of natural products.
The course aims to introduce different chemical classes of metabolites in plants and other natural resources, as well as educating students on the fundamental aspects of extracting bioactive compounds from these sources. Other key objectives of the course include creating graduates with an awareness of the importance of natural resources that people of all origins have been using since ancient times, and encouraging them to be ethical and respectful when using resources from nature in formulated products and pay attention to their sustainability. In addition, students will learn about toxicities of natural resources, the regulatory framework related to nature-based products and be responsible when creating such new formulations. They will learn a range of useful laboratory techniques though the experimental sessions and will develop practical problem solving skills, teamwork abilities and presentation skills through various classroom and laboratory activities.
By the end of the course, you will:Have a broad knowledge of the major classes of natural products and be able to describe several detailed examples for each.Understand the need, when developing product concepts, to consider issues around Māori and indigenous knowledge, traditional use, cultural perspectives and ownership of native flora and fauna in view of the Treaty of Waitangi.Be able to describe appropriate methods for the extraction and purification of natural products from a range of sources, mainly from a technical perspective but also considering traditional and contemporary Māori and other indigenous cultural views.Have fundamental practical laboratory skills in the extraction, purification and analysis of natural products.Read and understand scientific literature, improve skills on presenting scientific material and team working ability.Have an understanding about toxicology of natural products, the responsible use of compounds extracted from natural sources and global regulatory framework related to natural product formulations.Build early connections with industry experts in the field.
PROD235 or CHEM112
Students must attend one activity from each section.
Conan Fee
Alison Lowery
Hossein Najaf Zadeh , Sarah Kessans , Ian Shaw and Antony Nihoniho
Lecturers include Dr. Pram Abhayawardhana, Prof. Conan Fee, Prof. Ian Shaw and Dr. Tim Huber
Quizzes: 5%Laboratory reports: 25%Case study and presentation: using traditional knowledge in modern formulation research: 10%Test: 15%Final Exam: 40%Bonus points for various classroom activities: 5%
The prerequisite for this course is PROD235 or CHEM112
Domestic fee $1,122.00
International fee $6,238.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see School of Product Design on the departments and faculties page .