How do you make the best Caipirinha?

Abstract

Recently we discovered through metabolomics a novel type of solvents, which we called Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES). They are formed by mixtures of sugars, amino acids, organic acids and bases in certain molar ratios, e.g. malic acid and choline like well known synthetic ionic liquids. Also two neutral solids may form a deep eutectic solvent at room temperature. So we discovered that various sugars with e.g. choline or malic acid form such liquids. These NADES are medium polar like ethanol, and proved to be excellent solvents for most natural products, including proteins, DNA, RNA and polysaccharides, often with orders of magnitude higher solubility than in water. Do they occur in nature? Nectar is an example of a NADES, but we believe that NADES play an important role in nature as a third liquid phase of medium polarity between water and lipids. In resurrection plants, cacti, seeds all ingredients of NADES present, and also cold and drought resistant plants are rich in NADES ingredients. The occurrence of NADES in cells would explain how water insoluble compounds like terpenoids can be biosynthesized, as well as very high levels of flavonoids and derivatives occur in flowers in a liquid state. NADES ingredients are found in all pro- and eukaryotic cells. When you start thinking about possible roles of NADES in nature, the possibilities are almost infinite!