Benders'dictionary of nutrition and food technology

angels on horseback Shelled oysters wrapped in bacon, skeweredon a toothpick and then grilled.See also devils on horseback.angina (angina pectoris) Paroxysmal thoracic pain and chokingsensation, especially during exercise or stress, due to partialblockage of the coronary artery (the blood vessel supplying theheart), as a result of atherosclerosis.angiotensin Peptide hormone formed in the circulation by theaction of renin (EC 3.4.23.15) on α-globulin; converted to theactive vasoconstrictor angiotensin II by angiotensin convertingenzyme (ace, EC 3.4.15.1) in the lungs. Angiotensin II also stimulatessecretion of aldosterone and vasopressin, so increasingblood pressure.angiotensinogenase See renin.Angostura The best known of the bitters, widely used in cocktails;a secret blend of herbs and spices, including the bitter aromaticbark of either of two trees of the orange family (Galipeaofficinalis, Cusparia felorifuga). Invented in 1818 by Dr Siegertin the town of Angostura in Venezuela (now called CiudadBolivar), originally as a medicine, and now made in Trinidad. Afew drops of Angostura in gin makes a ‘pink gin’.angstrom A unit of length equal to 10 −8 cm (10 −10 m) and hence =10 nm; not an official SI unit, but commonly used in structuralchemistry and crystallography.angular stomatitis A characteristic cracking and fissuring of theskin at the angles of the mouth, a symptom of vitamin b 2 deficiency,but also seen in other conditions.anhydrovitamin A Isomer of retinol in which the —OH group hasbeen removed by treatment with hydrochloric acid, with correspondingshift in the double bonds. Once incorrectly calledcyclised or spurious vitamin a, it has very slight biological activity.animal charcoal See bone charcoal.animal protein factor A name given to a growth factor or factorswhich were found to be present in animal but not vegetable proteins,one of which was identified as vitamin b 12 .anion A negatively charged ion.aniseed (anise) The dried fruit of Pimpinella anisum, a memberof the parsley family, which is used to flavour baked goods, meatdishes and drinks, including anise, anisette and ouzo. Chiefcomponent of the volatile oil is anethole (methoxypropenylbenzene).See also anise, star.anise pepper A pungent spice from the Sichuan region of China(the fruit of Zanthoxylum piperitum); the flavour develops graduallyafter biting into the pepper.27