New Educational Resource: Episode 1: What is a Natural Product? - i-Valle LAB with Prof. Isaza

2026-10-13
Miniatura del Episodio 1 con el personaje El Profe Isaza, profesor de cabello gris con gafas de seguridad sosteniendo una ramita. Texto: ¿Producto Natural? Abajo, iconos de hoja, planta, matraz y molécula representando las 4 formas de un producto natural.

i-Valle LAB presents: Episode 1
What is a Natural Product? 4 forms and why we NO LONGER say secondary metabolites

After my retirement as professor at Universidad del Valle, I have started the educational series i-Valle LAB, featuring my cartoon character Prof. Isaza, to share my experience in natural products chemistry in an academic yet pleasant way.

In this first episode (6:14 min) we define what a natural product is, its four forms —organism, part, extract and pure compound— and why science now talks about specialized metabolites instead of secondary metabolites. They are not chemical decorations; they are how an organism connects with its environment.

Ideal for pharmacy, chemistry, agronomy and biology students.

Full video, open access on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/RCdvWKaiU5g

Next episode: Primary and specialized metabolism.

José Hipólito Isaza Martínez, PhD
Retired Professor, Universidad del Valle - Cali, Colombia
i-Valle LAB Series