My watch list
my.chemeurope.com  
Login  

Raspberries, Weight Loss, & The Galaxy

The Chemistry of Raspberries

05-Jul-2016

© Compound Interest

Raspberries, Weight Loss, & The Galaxy

Raspberries, like all fruits, contain a complex mix of organic compounds. Unlike many fruits, however, raspberries have the less common distinction of lending their name to the compound that is a major contributor to their aroma – and one of the compounds that contributes to their flavour has also been detected in the centre of our galaxy. So, does the centre of the galaxy taste faintly of raspberries?

Before we examine that, let’s start by looking at the aroma of raspberries. A number of families of chemical compounds contribute toward the smell of raspberries, primarily terpenoids, aldehydes & ketones. However, it’s a compound known as ‘raspberry ketone’ (which has the chemical name 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)butan-2-one)) that is considered the ‘impact molecule’ for the aroma. Its pleasant aroma has seen it used in perfumery, cosmetics, and as a food additive – however, these uses come at a price. Only around 1-4mg of raspberry ketone can be extracted from a kilogram of raspberries, and as a consequence the cost of the naturally occurring compound is significant. Synthetic forms of the compound are, however, less costly.

Topics
  • obesity
  • weight loss
  • aldehydes
  • terpenoids
  • ketones
  • 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)…
  • raspberries
More about Compound Interest
  • Infographics

    2018’s biggest science stories

    As we head into 2019, it’s time to take a look back at some of the biggest science news stories over the past year. This year’s science news featured water on Mars, the effects of e-cigarettes, new types of isomerism and bonding, and more! 2018 saw a number of significant discoveries in sci ... more

    Unleashing our immune systems against cancer

    The first of the 2018 Nobel Prizes is awarded. The 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to James P. Allison and Tasuku Honjo for their discovery of cancer therapy by stimulating the immune system to attack tumour cells. This graphic takes a look at the prize-winning research. more

    The creation of tools made from laser light

    After the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine has been awarded, it is physics' turn. The 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Arthur Ashkin, Gérard Morou and Donna Strickland for their pioneering innovations in the field of laser physics. Strickland is only the third woman to recei ... more

Your browser is not current. Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 does not support some functions on Chemie.DE