Teaching sulfur compounds with sunflowers / Ibtisam Abdul Wahab

The heteroatoms, such as sulfur atom, are taught to the pharmacy undergraduates in their first semester of the program. The knowledge on sulfur compounds is significant, since there are available in the structural composition of antibiotics, such as the penicillin, and among others, the amino acids, and proteins. Prior to the lectures on antibiotics and other biologically important molecules, these pharmacists-in-training (PIT) were invited to name chemical compounds of their interests. The object-oriented responses include examples of heterocyclic or sulfur-containing compounds, such as sulflowers. The PIT found out that the front view of the two-dimensional (2D) structure of sulflower, would resemble the bloom of a sunflower (botanically known as Helianthus annuus) or an eight-pointed star. The sulflower’s molecular formula is C16S8 or (C2S)8, which allow the PIT to classify it as a form of carbon sulfide (CS2). From their inspection, the substance is a highly symmetrical and planar structure, just like the disk-shaped sunflower heads. In addition, the front view of 2D structure of persulfurated coronene (PSC, C24S12), displays a unique sulfur-rich structure that consists of 12 sulfur atoms and 24 carbon atoms, arranged in a star pattern. The PIT’s discussion would deepen into the atomic bonding, the geometry of the compound, and three-dimensional (3D) molecular arrangement. The information for both hydrocarbon and heterocyclic chemistry topics were successfully shared among the PIT, via such learning educational activity. The undergraduate research course in Year 3 of the pharmacy program could further include the laboratory projects on the extraction and chemical analysis of the sunflowers seed extractions. This would introduce PIT to the lessons on traditional herbal and medicinal practices, plus pharmacognosy. In addition to their practical uses, the sunflowers are also important in art and culture. In short, natural product resources like Helianthus plant species, could be chosen as an interesting and creative pharmaceutical teaching aid.