Okay, it's not strickly alchemy per se...

University of Missouri researchers develop a greener process for making gold nanoparticles using soybeans.

Quoting the article from Nanotech Wire:
"MU researchers Kattesh Katti, Raghuraman Kannan, and Kavita Katti led a team of scientists that have discovered how to make gold nanoparticles using gold salts, soybeans and water. No other chemicals are used in the process, which means this new process could have major environmental implications for the future."

Read more about it here:
http://nanotechwire.com/news.asp?nid=5227