PHARMACOGNOSY LECTURE

o Grapes and cranberry giving the red pigment

TANNINS
TANNINS contains tannins
- “Phenolic natural products” that precipitate proteins
from their aqueous solutions 2. Pseudotannins
- Complex natural organic compounds, polyphenolic, o Compounds of lower molecular weight than true
polyhydroxy benzoic derivatives or flavonol tannins and do not respond to Goldbeater’s Skin
derivatives Test
- Significant function in plants o Simple tannins, co-exist with true tannins
o Gallic acid: Rhubarb
CLASSIFICATION o Catechins: Cocoa (Theobroma cacao)
1. True Tannins o Chlorgenic acid: Coffee (Coffee arabica)
o Ipecacuanic acid: Ipecacuanha (Cephaelis
a. Hydrolyzable Tannins
ipecacuanha)
o High molecular weight phenolic plant
constituents that can be detected by
CHARACTERISTICS:
Goldbeater’s skin tanning test
o Aka Pyrogallol tannins - Non-crystalline compounds that form colloidal
o On dry distillation gallic acid and similar solutions with water
components are converted to pyrogallol - Possesses an acid reaction and sharp puckering taste
o Esters of a sugar (or related polyol) and of a - Cause precipitation of gelatin ad alkaloids
variable phenolic acid molecule - Form dark blue or greenish black soluble compounds
o Gallic acid: Gallitannins with ferric chloride
o Ellagic acid: Ellagitannins - Produce deep red color with potassium ferric cyanide
and ammonia
- Precipitated by salts of copper, lead and tin and by
b. Gallitannins
strong aqueous potassium dichromate (or 1%
o Rhubarb chromic acid)
o Cloves (Eugenia caryophyllus) - Absorb oxygen in alkaline solutions
o Hamamelis (Hamamelis virginiana) - Can precipitate proteins from solution: “astringent”
o Chest nut (Castance spp.) action on living tissues
o Maple (Acer saccharum)
o Red rose petals
USES
o Bearberry leaves
- Antioxidant
- Antidiarrheal
c. Ellagitannins
- Antidote for heavy metal poisoning
o Pomegranate rind and bark (Punica granatum) - Treatment for burns, ulcers, inflammations
o Eucalyptus leaves (Eucalyptus globulus) - Astringent to stop bleeding (hemorrhage)
o Oak bark (Quercus palustris) - Treatment of hemorrhoids
o Cinchona bark (Cinchona succirubra) - Tanning industry
o Wild cherry bark (Prunus serotina)

d. Condensed Tannins PLANTS

o Aka “Proanthocyanidins”, “Catechol tannins” 1. Witch Hazel Leaves
o Related to flavonoid pigments, and has o Hamamelis virginiana (Hamamelidaceae)
polymeric flavan-3-ol structures o Constituents: Gallitannins, Ellagitannins, free
o More resistant to hydrolysis upon prolonged gallic acid, proanthocyanidin, bitter principles,
heating with acids traces of volatile oil
o Undergo decomposition (not hydrolysis) to give o Uses: Astringent, Hemostatic, anti-inflammatory
a red soluble compounds: phlobaphene
2. Tea Leaves
o Kola seeds: Cola acuminata
o Areca seeds: Areca catechu o Prepared leaves of Camellia sinensis (Theaceae)
o Green tea leaves: Camellia sinensis o Constituents: Gallic acid, Catechin, Caffeins,
o Black catechu: Acacia catechu Theobromine, Theophylline
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 PHARMACOGNOSY LECTURE

o Uses: Stimulant, Astringent, Cardiotonic, diuretic,

expectorant
3. Pale Catechu
o Synonym: Gamblier, catechu
o Biological source: Dried aqueous extract produced
from the leaves and young twigs of Uncaria
gambir (Rubiaceae)
o Constituents: Pseudotannin catechin and 22% to
55% of a phlobatannin catechutannic acid,
quercitin
o Uses: Astringent, dyeing and tanning industries
4. Black Catechu
o Dried aqueous extract prepared from the
heartwood of Acacia catechu, Fabaceae
o Astringent, tanning animal hides
o Constituents: catechin, quercitin, phlobatannin,
catechutannic acid
o Uses: Astringent, troubles of mouth, diseases of
the throat and diarrhea, increases appetite
o In India and Eastern countries, it is used in betel
leaves for chewing
o In dyeing industries, cutch is used for dyeing
fabrics brown or black
5. Nutgalls
o Young twigs of the dyers oak, Quercus infectoria
(Fagaceae)
o Constituents: Tannic acid (Gallotannic acid), gallic
acid, ellagic acid
o Uses: Major source of tannic acid
o Local astringent in ointments and suppositories,
styptic

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