Category: P

  • Phenolic hydroxyl group

    Hydroxyl group attached to an aromatic ring.  

  • Phase II metabolism reactions

    The second phase of the metabolism of foreign compounds, in which the activated derivatives formed in phase I metabolism are conjugated with amino acids, glucuronic acid or glutathione, to yield water-soluble derivatives that are excreted in urine or bile.  

  • Phase I metabolism reactions

    The first phase of metabolism of foreign compounds (xenobiotics), involving metabolic activation. These reactions occur mainly in the liver but also in the small intestine and lungs and comprise the microsomal or mixed function oxidase system, NADPH- dependent enzymes and cytochrome P450 proteins. Generally regarded as detoxication reactions, but may in fact convert inactive precursors…

  • Pharmafoods

    Alternative name for functional foods.  

  • Phagophobia

    Phagophobia

    Fear of food; also known as sitophobia.    

  • Phagomania

    Morbid obsession with food; also known as sitomania.  

  • Potential hydrogen

    A measure of acidity or alkalinity. Defined as the negative logarithm of the hydrogen-ion concentration. The scale runs from 0, which is very strongly acid, to 14, which is very strongly alkaline. Pure water is pH 7, which is neutral; below 7 is acid, above is alkaline. The abbreviation used for potential hydrogen. pH represents…

  • Pescetarian

    Vegetarian who will eat fish, but not meat.  

  • Peptide linkage

    CONH linkage formed by reaction of an amine group of one amino acid with the carboxylic acid group of a second amino acid.  

  • Peptidases

    Enzymes that hydrolyse proteins, and therefore important in protein digestion. An enzyme that hydrolyzes (cleaves) a peptide bond. An enzyme which breaks down proteins in the intestine into amino acids. Digestive enzyme secreted by the small intestine that converts peptides to amino acids. One of a group of digestive enzymes that split proteins in the…