This is chlorophyll. With its help, vegetation acquires the appropriate color. Even at school, children are taught that this substance plays an important role in the process of photosynthesis. Thus, plants cannot exist without it.
But recently it is believed that this pigment can be used for human health. There is information that is sold in pharmacies; purchasing it is not difficult. It is believed that it can help in the treatment of many diseases. But does this substance actually have healing properties?
It has already been said that chlorophyll is the green pigment of a plant, giving it its corresponding color. This is an important element in the life of vegetation, required for photosynthesis. Chlorophyll has a special chemical composition: a magnesium atom is surrounded by atoms of nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon and oxygen.
Almost a hundred years ago, Hans Fischer made an amazing discovery. He noticed that the chemical structures of chlorophyll and hemoglobin were similar. The difference is that instead of magnesium, hemoglobin contains iron. Because of this, the pigment chlorophyll began to be called the blood of plants. Many scientists became interested in this substance and began to study it. Some people wanted to use it in medicine.
Uses of chlorophyll
The green pigment of the plant is currently used as a food additive. It is better known as the E-140. With its help, they replace dyes that are used for chlorophyll. A derivative of chlorophyll is trisodium salt. It is used in the food industry as a dye and is named E-141.
Scientists could not realize that the structure of hemoglobin is so similar to chlorophyll. Because of this, it is used not only for dietary supplements. Today, green pigment extract is produced. It is called liquid chlorophyll and is used in medicine as a healing agent. But is it really useful?
Promises of manufacturers regarding liquid chlorophyll
Today, liquid chlorophyll is attracting interest. The plant contains a green pigment that is used for this dietary supplement. The product has attracted people who want to improve their health. The manufacturer who produces it believes that the drug has a beneficial effect on the body, since the structure of the pigment is very similar to hemoglobin.
Buyers are told that liquid chlorophyll has the following properties:
- Removes waste and toxins from the body.
- Regulates the level of hormones that are in the blood.
- With it, the acid-base balance will always be normal.
- The blood is saturated with minerals, nutrients, and vitamins.
- Tissue regeneration occurs faster.
- Immunity improves.
- It can help in some gynecological pathologies.
Experts' opinion
This dietary supplement is presented as an origin that is capable of providing extraordinary healing effects. With its help, you can treat diseases, as well as engage in prevention. But what do experts think about this?
Doctors' opinions were divided:
- Opponents suggest that using liquid chlorophyll is pointless due to the fact that the substance is not able to be fully absorbed in the human body. They also refute theories about healing properties.
- But there are experts who confirm some of the medicinal properties of the drug. They noticed that it really removes toxins and strengthens the immune and cardiovascular systems.
There is no clear opinion. Because of this, each person decides for himself whether he needs this remedy. But, besides this, the green pigment of the plant is needed to purify the air, which is important for human life.
Photosynthesis
One thing is certain: chlorophyll can help saturate the air with oxygen. Photosynthesis is a complex process that involves plants and solar energy. A chemical reaction occurs through which oxygen appears from carbon dioxide. Only this process of life activity of everything on the planet uses the energy of the sun.
Photoautotrophs capture sunlight. This process occurs in plants, some algae and unicellular organisms. Despite the fact that photosynthesis is carried out by lower life entities, half of the work falls on plants.
Terrestrial representatives of vegetation receive water through their roots, which is necessary for this process. There are small holes on the surface of the leaves through which carbon dioxide enters. In the process of all this, oxygen is released. Without chlorophyll, this process is impossible, since it is this green pigment of the plant that absorbs solar energy.
Although there is also non-chlorophyll photosynthesis. It has been seen in salt-loving bacteria that harbor a light-sensitive violet pigment. The latter is capable of absorbing light. But this is an isolated case. Chlorophyll is mainly involved.
Properties of chlorophyll discovered by science
The green pigment has begun to be closely studied in science. Liquid chlorophyll has been proven to promote cell regeneration. But it was still not possible to make a powerful antibiotic, so tablets were preferred.
But research in dentistry has made great progress. Having become interested in the healing properties of chlorophyll, they studied it and noticed a positive effect on the oral cavity. Robert Nahr invented a program that could help fight tooth decay. A toothpaste was released that contained chlorophyll. As you know, this green pigment is actively involved in photosynthesis, through which oxygen is produced. And this is a powerful agent that eliminates bacteria, including those that cause caries. Because of this, the paste has earned recognition, as it showed excellent results.
There were also positive studies that revealed that the pigment fights pancreatitis if taken orally.
So, chlorophyll plays an important role in the life of not only plants, but also all people. With its help, photosynthesis occurs and the oxygen needed by humans is released. Also, liquid chlorophyll began to be used in medicine. Many studies have shown good results.
It is a green plant pigment that is used to treat skin lesions and ulcers. Since ancient times, skilled healers have used this plant for various diseases. In recent years, medical centers in different countries have found that can be used against infectious and cancer diseases. According to many dentists, chlorophyll can improve oral health and cleanse breath. At the beginning of the twentieth century, scientists found that chlorophyll is very similar in structure to hemoglobin in the blood, but in the latter case the protein structure is produced around an iron molecule, and in the former around magnesium. Chlorophyll is often called the blood of green plants.
Let's take a closer look.
So, chlorophyll is the green pigment of plants that carries out photosynthesis. The process looks like this: Carbon dioxide is absorbed from the air and solar energy is converted into chemical bonds. The amazing thing is that when photosynthesis works, oxygen is also released. That's why chlorophyll and is called the green miracle of nature. In 1940, the first scientific studies on the clinical use of chlorophyll were published in an American surgical journal. Studies have shown that tissue regeneration processes are significantly accelerated after five surgical interventions. But at that time antibiotics were very popular, so most doctors preferred them. For two decades, dentists from Michigan (USA) have been working to study the effect of chlorophyll on the microecology of the oral cavity. Dr. Robert Nara developed a dental caries prevention program using chlorophyll. The doctor believed that since chlorophyll is involved in photosynthesis, it is directly related to the production of oxygen. It follows from this that oxygen is a very strong antibacterial agent. This was subsequently proven in practice regarding bacteria that caused caries.
Medical scientists were attracted not only by the external use of chlorophyll. One of the most stunning properties of chlorophyll is its antibacterial effect., and it can be used for common colds, chronic skin ulcers, acute sinusitis or cervical erosion. Doctors have always noted certain positive changes. Chlorophyll is absolutely safe can be used both externally and internally.
In 1976, Israeli scientists conducted a successful series of experiments on mice that suffered from acute pancreatitis. Moreover, various methods of introducing chlorophyll were used. Prior to this, Japanese scientists also proved the productivity of chlorophyll in various infectious diseases.
The state of Texas also conducted an interesting series of studies in 1979. In mice that suffered from colon tumors, the tumor did not develop further when fed a diet containing chlorophyll. This once again proves the fact that eating vegetables reduces the risk of developing cancer, especially intestinal cancer.
Japanese scientists have studied about sixty species of plants and vegetables. It has been proven that Most of them have anti-carcinogenic properties. But heating and boiling deprive plants of these functions.
Dr. Chiu Nan Lai, who works at Anderson Hospital, believes that chlorophyll acts as the main anti-carcinogenic factor. All plants that are rich in chlorophyll are endowed with special antimutagenic properties. Such plants are Brussels sprouts, spinach, spirulina, broccoli, chard - Swiss chard, wheat and barley sprouts. Extracts, fresh vegetables, and ointments that contain chlorophyll are a kind of natural “green pharmacy.”
In March 1950, medical scientist Howard Westcott wrote a report in which he clearly explained that with constant intake of chlorophyll orally, unpleasant body odor and bad breath disappear. According to research conducted by Westcott, it is enough to take just one hundred mg of chlorophyll per day (preferably in the morning) to achieve good results in 90% of cases. Even after smoking or eating onions, chlorophyll will keep your breath fresh.
When taking chlorophyll, persistent odors in patients with urinary incontinence and odors associated with menstrual flow were eliminated.
Chlorophyll can have a stimulating effect on various organs and systems - pulmonary, urinary, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal. In addition, hematopoiesis is activated, and lactation problems disappear in nursing mothers, which is especially important in these days of artificial feeding of babies.
In the modern world, people take this gift of nature very lightly. If you watch animals, you can often notice an amazing picture of eating grass.
The positive thing is that chemotherapy is slowly becoming a thing of the past, and more and more doctors are using the “green pharmacy”.
The American company Natures Sunshine Products has accumulated quite a lot of experience in the use of chlorophyll.. Doctors in the CIS countries have long been successfully using chlorophyll for many diseases. It is often prescribed for prevention and for complications with pregnancy, for anemia, for the treatment of purulent-septic, as well as acute and chronic diseases. And these are just a few examples of successful use of the product.
In fact, during the time that NSP has been operating on the Russian market, a large number of people have gotten rid of complex pathologies thanks to this useful product.
It is recommended to take a few teaspoons of Liquid Chlorophyll every day. Most often it is used for the industrial production of chlorophyll. Juice is extracted from its fresh leaves, which is dried using a specially developed technology and then either turned into capsules or a solution is prepared. These forms are almost equivalent in effectiveness, it’s just that in liquid form the product is absorbed more easily and the expected result occurs faster. Alfalfa is considered the richest source of chlorophyll, but despite this, in some countries it is considered a simple grass for feeding livestock. In other countries, it is revered as a medicinal panacea.
Thanks to its powerful root system, alfalfa extracts nutrients from great depths, which makes it different from other vegetable crops that are content only with the surface. Therefore, alfalfa contains a very high-quality composition, a wide variety of vitamins and microelements. By the way, it contains four times more than citrus fruits. The plant is also rich in beta-carotene, vitamin K, B6, D, E, and niacin. Vitamin K is simply necessary for patients who are prone to thrombosis to prevent bleeding. Many green plants contain vitamin U, which reduces the risk of ulcers and duodenal ulcers. Alfalfa is the richest plant in minerals. Among the plants studied, it has the highest calcium content.
Alfalfa can prevent the formation of oxalate stones in the kidneys. , potassium and are also presented in an easily digestible form. In addition, alfalfa contains eight essential amino acids, which are necessary for protein synthesis. Alfalfa is often prescribed for metabolic disorders - atherosclerosis, diabetes, degenerative joint diseases, etc. Doctors also recommend alfalfa as an adaptogenic product., which will be especially relevant in our time of constant stress.
It can be said that many of the functions of alfalfa also apply to chlorophyll. To obtain useful chlorophyll extracts, very complex and high-tech techniques are used. Therefore, you should not try to prepare this drink yourself. In addition, it is unknown how many active components the human body can absorb.
Each of us can prepare a green drink, this is especially true in spring and summer. You will need one or two glasses of water, fresh herbs (rhubarb, chard, spinach, dandelion, etc.) and a mixer with cutting blades. This drink will not amaze you with its taste, so you can add some sweet juice to it.
Think about your health and the health of your loved ones who need to eat green foods all year round.
Introduction
Proteins are high-molecular nitrogen-containing organic substances, the molecules of which are built from amino acid residues. Proteins make up up to half or more of the dry mass of a living cell.
The composition of proteins by chemical elements: C, O, H, N, sometimes S. Proteins also contain the elements Fe, Cu, Zn, etc. But it is not the chemical elements that are the “letters of the alphabet” that make up the whole variety of “words” - molecules proteins. Nature chose simple compounds—amino acids—as such structural elements of proteins.
All proteins consist mainly of 20 amino acids.
Based on their composition, proteins are divided into simple and complex. Simple ones consist only of amino acid residues. Complex proteins differ from simple ones by the presence of a prosthetic group. A complex protein that has lost a prosthetic group is called an anoprotein. Complex proteins are divided into classes depending on the composition and structure of the prosthetic group
name of complex proteins prosthetic group
metalloproteins metal atoms
hemoproteins iron porphyrin
phosphoproteins phosphate groups
glycoproteins oligosaccharides, simple sugars
proteoglycans polysaccharides
ligoproteins lipids
DNA or RNA nucleoproteins
Proteins are high-molecular compounds that contain hundreds and even thousands of amino acid residues combined into a macromolecular structure. The molecular weight of proteins ranges from 6,000 to 1,000,000 daltons and higher, depending on the number of individual polypeptide chains in the single molecular structure of the protein. Such polypeptide chains are called subunits. Their molecular weight varies widely: from 6,000 to 100,000 or more daltons.
Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll belongs to the class of proteins. Chlorophyll is “one of the most interesting substances on the earth’s surface” (C. Darwin), since thanks to it it is possible to synthesize organic substances from inorganic C and.
The most important role in the process of photosynthesis is played by the green pigment - chlorophyll. French scientists Peletier and Caventou (1818) isolated a green substance from leaves and called it chlorophyll (from the Greek “chloros” - green and “phyllon” - leaf). Currently, about 10 chlorophylls are known. They differ in chemical structure, color, and distribution among living organisms. All higher plants contain chlorophylls a and b. Chlorophyll c is found in diatoms, chlorophyll d is found in red algae. In addition, four bacteriochlorophylls are known to be contained in the cells of photosynthetic bacteria. The cells of green bacteria contain bacteriochlorophylls c and d. In the cells of purple bacteria there are bacteriochlorophylls a and b. The main pigments, without which photosynthesis does not occur, are chlorophyll a for green plants and bacteriochlorophyll for bacteria.
For the first time, an accurate representation of the pigments of a green leaf was obtained thanks to the work of the largest Russian botanist M. S. Tsvet. He isolated the leaf pigments in their pure form and developed a new chromatographic method for separating substances. This method later became widely used both in biochemistry and in purely chemical research.
Chlorophylls a and b differ in color. Chlorophyll a is blue-green, and chlorophyll b is yellow-green. The content of chlorophyll a in the leaf is approximately three times higher compared to chlorophyll b.
Conditions for the formation of chlorophyll.
The formation of chlorophyll occurs in 2 phases: the first phase is dark, during which the precursor of chlorophyll, protochlorophyll, is formed, and the second phase is light, during which chlorophyll is formed from protochlorophyll in the light. The formation of chlorophyll requires the presence of iron. A deficiency of iron results in plants characterized by pale stripes and faint green coloration of the leaves. The formation of chlorophyll depends on temperature. The optimal temperature for the accumulation of chlorophyll is 26-30 C. As one would expect, only the formation of protochlorophyll (dark phase) depends on temperature. In the presence of already formed protochlorophylls, the greening process (light phase) proceeds at the same speed, regardless of temperature. The rate of chlorophyll formation is influenced by water content. Severe dehydration of seedlings leads to a complete cessation of chlorophyll formation. The formation of protochlorophyll is especially sensitive to dehydration.
V.I. Palladin also drew attention to the need for carbohydrates for the greening process to occur. This is precisely why the greening of seedlings in the light depends on their age. After 7-9 days of age, the ability to form chlorophyll in such seedlings drops sharply. When sprayed with sucrose, the seedlings begin to turn intensely green again.
Mineral nutrition conditions are of utmost importance for the formation of chlorophyll. First of all, you need enough iron. With a lack of iron, even the leaves of adult plants lose color. This phenomenon is called chlorosis. Iron is a necessary catalyst for the formation of chlorophyll. It is necessary at the stage of synthesis of δ-aminolevulinic acid from glycerol and succinyl-CoA, as well as the synthesis of protoporphyrin. Of great importance for ensuring the synthesis of chlorophyll is the normal supply of plants with nitrogen and magnesium, since both of these elements are part of chlorophyll. With a lack of copper, chlorophyll is easily destroyed. This is apparently due to the fact that copper promotes the formation of stable complexes between chlorophyll and the corresponding proteins.
Studies of the process of chlorophyll accumulation in plants during the growing season have shown that the maximum chlorophyll content is confined to the beginning of flowering. It is even believed that increased chlorophyll production can be used as an indicator indicating that plants are ready to flower. Chlorophyll synthesis depends on the activity of the root system. Thus, during grafting, the chlorophyll content in the scion leaves depends on the properties of the root system of the rootstock. It is possible that the influence of the root system is due to the fact that hormones (cytokinins) are formed there. In dioecious plants, female leaves are characterized by a high chlorophyll content.
Chemical properties of chlorophyll.
According to its chemical composition, chlorophyll is an ester of the dicarboxylic acid chlorophenyl. Chlorofinyl is a nitrogen-containing organometallic compound classified as a magnesium porphyrin. In the center of the chlorophyll molecule there is a magnesium atom, which is connected to four nitrogens of the pyrrole groups. The pyrrole groups of chlorophyll have a system of alternating double and single bonds. This is the chromophore group of chlorophyll, which determines its color.
The presence of magnesium is easily detected. One has only to treat the alcoholic extract of chlorophyll with a weak solution of hydrochloric or some other acid to determine magnesium. In this case, a change in color will occur - the hood acquires a yellow-brown tint. Chlorophyll without magnesium is called pheophytin:
It is relatively easy to reintroduce some metal into the pheophytin molecule and restore the organometallic bond. To do this, add copper acetate or zinc acetate to the pheophytin solution and heat it. Zinc or copper enters the chlorophyll molecule, and the extract becomes green again.
The chemical formula was established in 1913 by German biochemists R. Willstetter and A. Stoll. They managed to establish it by sequentially splitting off its individual parts from the chlorophyll molecule by the action of acids and alkalis, and subsequently by heating under pressure. Before this work, plant physiology thought that chlorophyll contained iron rather than magnesium. They also finally proved the presence of two chlorophylls - a and b.
The same work made the formation of crystalline chlorophyll. Willstetter and Stoll showed that the enzyme chlorophyllase, present in green leaves, splits off the alcohol phytol and a residue of ethyl or methyl alcohol takes its place. Such compounds are called chlorophyllides. If phytol is replaced by an ethyl alcohol residue, the resulting compound is called ethyl chlorophyllide.
Optical properties of chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll absorbs solar energy and directs it to chemical reactions that cannot occur without energy received from the outside. A chlorophyll solution in transmitted light is green, but with increasing layer thickness or chlorophyll concentration it becomes red.
Chlorophyll absorbs light not completely, but selectively. When passing through seven visible colors, which gradually transform into each other. When passing white light through a prism and a chlorophyll solution, the most intense absorption in the resulting spectrum will be in red and blue-violet rays. Green rays are little absorbed, therefore, in a thin layer, chlorophyll has a green color in transmitted light. However, with increasing chlorophyll concentration, the absorption bands expand (a significant part of the green rays is also absorbed) and only part of the extreme red rays passes through without absorption. The absorption spectra of chlorophyll a and b are very close.
In reflected light, chlorophyll appears cherry red because it emits the light it absorbs as its wavelength changes. This property of chlorophyll is called fluorescence.
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In the 30s of the last century, scientists discovered that the green pigment, which is involved in photosynthesis and gives plants their green color, is in many ways similar to hemoglobin. The beneficial properties of many plants, such as broccoli, spinach, spirulina, wheat sprouts, are due to the presence of large amounts of chlorophyll in them. Experiments with this substance were carried out in clinics in the USA, Israel, and Japan. All of them confirmed a number of his positive actions. Dietary supplements with chlorophyll are now on sale. They usually contain a derivative of this substance - chlorophyllin. Let us consider in this article what kind of substance chlorophyll is and how it affects the human body, as well as how its derivatives differ from it.
Description and characteristics of the substance
Higher plants, algae and some bacteria contain different types of chlorophyll. Now four groups of this pigment have been discovered - a, b, c, d. Moreover, only group a takes part in photosynthesis. The formula of a-chlorophyll is C55 H72 O5 N4 Mg.
Basis The chemical structure of chlorophylls of various groups is porphyrin, which is a compound based on a magnesium atom, and a high-molecular hydrophobic alcohol attached to it, which promotes the incorporation of chlorophyll among the lipid layer of photosynthetic membranes in plant chloroplasts. By absorbing sunlight, it converts it into energy from chemical processes in plant cells.
Did you know? For the first time, chlorophyll was completely synthesized by the American chemist R. Woodwardin 1960. And the pigment that colors the leaves green was given the name “chlorophyll” by the French chemists P. Pelletier and J. Cavantback in 1817.
The structure of this plant pigment is in many ways similar to the structure of hemoglobin. Only in hemoglobin the protein structure is formed around an iron molecule, and the “green blood of plants” contains magnesium molecules.
It is a compound that is unstable in the sun and is capable of oxidation. It is soluble in fat but insoluble in water.
Beneficial features
This substance has a number of beneficial properties for the human body. The most important of them is to strengthen and protect cells from the harmful effects of carcinogens already at the DNA level. This is an effective natural anticarcinogen and antimutagen, which is very important for modern people who do not live in the cleanest environment and often consume synthetic food additives.
It’s not for nothing that greens are considered a very useful product for the body, because along with many vitamins and useful minerals, they contain a lot of chlorophyll.
Did you know? Not everyone can eat a lot of greens at once. Therefore, now green smoothies made from various garden herbs (parsley, dill, celery, spinach, lettuce and others), young tops of some vegetables, sprouted greens of cereals and leaves of medicinal plants (nettle, mint, dandelion and others) are becoming increasingly popular. The greens are crushed in a blender along with fruits in a ratio of 4:6 and a very healthy smoothie is obtained.
For blood
Since the green pigment of plants is not much different from the red pigment of blood, chlorophyll helps increase hemoglobin levels. It will be useful for people with anemia, for recovery after surgery or injury. Vitamin K contained in it promotes blood clotting.
As an antioxidant
It protects the cell from oxidative reactions, as it contains magnesium and antioxidants. In addition, it helps the production of enzymes that rejuvenate and brighten the skin, promoting its regeneration.
This substance literally rejuvenates a person from the inside and is one of the top ten anti-aging products.
Anticancer
Converted chlorophyll is used by modern medicine for photodynamic treatment of cancer, since when introduced into the blood it accumulates in malignant tumors. When illuminated under aerobic conditions, they trigger reactions that destroy diseased cells. Moreover, the substance used in such treatment does not harm healthy cells, but, on the contrary, protects them.
Taking chlorophyll in dietary supplements or constantly consuming foods rich in this substance is an excellent cancer prevention, because the:
- protects the cell from the action of carcinogens;
- is an antimutagen;
- removes many toxins from the body;
- increases the immunity of the human body.
Scientists from Japan established this by conducting a series of experiments and using about 60 different plants. They discovered that Plants containing high levels of this substance have the most anti-carcinogenic effect.
Other medicinal properties
The green pigment of plants also has a number of the following healing properties:
- destroys and inhibits pathogenic microflora;
- deodorizing properties (for the oral cavity, skin, digestive system, etc.);
- detoxification of the body, as it binds and removes various toxins and carcinogens;
- improves and heals digestion;
- relieves fatigue, eliminates insomnia;
- alkalizes the body, improves immunity;
- perfectly heals wounds and burns;
- treats colds, rhinitis and sinusitis;
- prevention of urolithiasis;
- treatment of oral diseases;
- necessary for bones;
- maintains hormonal balance.
Did you know? The well-known medical drug “Chlorophyllipt” is a mixture of chlorophylls from eucalyptus leaves. It is used in medicine to treat diseases of the upper respiratory tract.
Harm and side effects from using chlorophyll supplements
Chlorophyll in its natural form is considered completely harmless, and at the moment no contraindications have been identified for its use. But this substance is not stable. For the convenience of consuming this substance, chlorophyllin was created - a water-soluble chlorophyll extract obtained from alfalfa and produced by NSP. This drug was given stability by replacing the magnesium atom with a copper atom.
Did you know? Chlorophyll is used as a food additive, which is used mainly for coloring confectionery products with registration number E 140. Chlorophyllin is now used as food coloring E 141.
But it is a heavy metal, so the following side effects may occur when taking it:
- diarrhea and flatulence (gas formation). Accompanied by indigestion, with pain and colic in the upper abdomen;
- May manifest as rash, redness, itching, swelling (especially in the face and neck), respiratory dysfunction;
- discoloration of stool and urine, as well as the tongue. Taking medications containing chlorophyll can cause side effects such as discoloration of discharge. In this case, chlorophyll can tint them a little greenish. After stopping taking this drug, this phenomenon completely disappears.
It is advisable to consult with your doctor about the use of synthetic analogues and nutritional supplements based on green plant pigment, especially if you have any chronic diseases.
Indications for use
Due to its beneficial properties, chlorophyll is used to treat the following diseases:
- - myocarditis, pericarditis, arrhythmia;
- respiratory system - bronchitis,
“Who does not know that with the awakening of plant life in the spring, all nature dresses in green attire, that no matter where on the globe we are transported, despite the difference in soil and climate, with an almost limitless variety of flowers and fruits, we will meet in different , true, shades, but with the same unchanged green color of the foliage. Finally, who doesn’t know that the loss of this green color in the fall is a sure sign of approaching hibernation or death. All this is so true and so well known that the color green has even become an emblem of life and hope.” This is how Kliment Arkadyevich Timiryazev wrote poetically about the green dress of the earth, about the greatest mystery of nature, to the explanation of which this talented Russian scientist devoted his entire life. Today, even a schoolchild knows that chlorophyll, a special pigment, colors plants green.
The total amount of chlorophyll in the leaf is small: about one percent (by dry weight). However, his role is enormous. With the help of chlorophyll, a green leaf absorbs the energy of sunlight, converting it into the chemical energy of organic compounds, which are created from inorganic substances - carbon dioxide and water. As a result of complex transformations, it is released into the atmosphere, providing the possibility of life on earth. This process is called.
Due to its amazing qualities, chlorophyll has long attracted the attention of scientists of various specialties: biologists, physicists and chemists.
Exceptional achievements in the study of the optical properties of chlorophyll and its physiological role belong to K. A. Timiryazev. Although K. A. Timiryazev did not know exactly the chemical properties of the chlorophyll molecule, nevertheless, he was the first to show that its role in the plant is not limited only to the absorption of light, that chlorophyll, as a highly active chemical compound, is directly involved in the process of photosynthesis.
K. A. Timiryazev made an interesting assumption (later it was confirmed experimentally) about the common chemical nature of the red blood pigment (hemin) and chlorophyll. The similarity between the molecules of chlorophyll and hemin in the blood is striking. It allows us to talk about chlorophyll as a biologically active substance, similar to vitamins in the life of an animal organism. This is the basis for the use of chlorophyll in medicine and animal husbandry as a hematopoietic agent and a drug that accelerates wound healing.
It became possible to study the composition of the chlorophyll molecule after the Russian botanist M. S. Tsvet proposed and developed the so-called chromatographic method for separating mixtures of various substances. M.S. The color showed that the green pigment of the leaf is heterogeneous. It consists of two components: chlorophyll a (blue-green) and chlorophyll b (yellow-green). In a leaf, as a rule, the amount of chlorophyll “a” is about three times greater than “b”.
What is the composition and structure of the chlorophyll molecule? An outstanding role in these studies belongs to the German chemist Willstetter, who established the total composition of chlorophyll “a”. An important stage in the study of chlorophyll was the deciphering of its breakdown products, obtained through consistent and careful exposure to weak acids and alkalis. As a result of this treatment, it was possible to separate easily bound chemical groups from the chlorophyll molecule and isolate the compound that makes up its main core - etioporphyrin. It is remarkable that a compound similar to etioporphyrin is the basis of the red blood pigment - hemin. Thus, a chemical similarity was established between the two most important pigments of the plant and animal world. It must be said that along with the commonality of the basic “skeleton” of molecules, there are also differences: for example, in the core of the hemin molecule there is an iron atom, and in chlorophyll there is a magnesium atom.
Having understood the composition and properties of the chlorophyll molecule, chemists set themselves the task of artificially creating it from the simplest starting products. Great achievements in the implementation of this synthesis belong to the German scientist Hans Fischer. In 1940, he managed to obtain one of the close precursors of chlorophyll - pheoporphyrin. There was one more step left to take - to synthesize a compound called pheophorbide. Chemists have long known how to go from pheophorbide to chlorophyll. But the creation of this last precursor to chlorophyll turned out to be a very difficult task, which was not solved for a long time. Only in 1960, almost simultaneously, chemists in the United States of America (Woodward and his colleagues) and Germany (Strehl, Kaloyanov and Koller) managed to synthesize pheophorbide. And therefore, for the first time, chlorophyll was obtained artificially. But one should not think that this has solved the problem of artificially creating organic matter and has accomplished photosynthesis outside the plant.
Researchers have long had pure chlorophyll preparations (isolated from leaves) at their disposal, but all attempts to reproduce the processes occurring in a green leaf with their participation have not been successful. Scientists have found that not only chlorophyll, although it is the most important among the many components of the cell, takes part in photosynthesis. Enzymes also play a major role in the operation of this microscopic chemical plant.
It is known that the composition of chloroplasts responsible for photosynthesis, in addition to chlorophyll, includes (40-50 percent), including proteins with catalytic properties - enzymes, lipids (25-30 percent) and other biologically active substances. All these components are located in the chloroplast in a certain order: layers of proteins alternate with layers of lipids and chlorophyll, as if forming a single chlorophyll - lipoprotein complex. Externally, the structure of the chloroplast resembles a layer cake. Violation of this order leads to the loss of the leaf's ability to carry out photosynthesis, although chlorophyll molecules and other substances remain intact. But the chloroplast is destroyed - the plant is out of order.
Scientists have not yet succeeded in reproducing the structure of the chloroplast and the process that takes place in it with the participation of chlorophyll, but work in this direction is being carried out very actively. It is already possible to carry out some stages of photosynthesis using chloroplasts extracted from the cell. This is how (though using stronger oxidizing agents than carbon dioxide) oxygen is separated from water. Good results are also obtained from experiments with the reduction of carbon dioxide and the formation of products that interfere with the synthesis of carbohydrates.
We must think that the time is not far off when the secret of photosynthesis will be revealed to the end and from air and light, as K. A. Timiryazev said, we will receive food.