The research is primarily based on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR).  This is used to solve structures of natural products like gossypol form cotton (see picture).  Natural products are also isolated from Danish plants like Geum Urbanum, which has been used in Danish folk medicine again fever.  Geum Urbanum is a common weed.  In the NMR studies deuterium (heavy hydrogen) is used to produce isotope effects (given in Figure). 
We use also NMR to study the structure of proteins (se Figure) and enzymes in order to understand how enzymes and inhibitors work.  Cellulose is the main component of paper, wood, straw and plant cell walls.  The structure of wood and cellulose is studied by solid state NMR spectroscopy.  This research is also related to bioethanol production.
An interesting compound gossypol can as mentioned by extracted from cotton.  The structure has been determined and it has been considered as a male contraceptive.
Hydrogen bonds keep among other forces the cellulose together and is important in many biomolecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids and carbohydrates (sugars).  We study hydrogen bonds using isotopes and NMR.
Synthesis based on natural products gives new opportunities for new and innovative structures bases on natures own building blocks.

•Homepage: http://akira.ruc.dk/~poulerik/