Pharmacologically active constituents.pdf

This PPT offers a bird's eye view of different pharmacologically active constituents along with their sources and uses.

1. PHARMACOLOGICALLY ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS WITH
SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SOURCE PLANTS (ONE EXAMPLE)
PARTS USED AND USES
A Presentation by
Dr. Nandadulal Sannigrahi,
Associate Professor of Botany,
Nistarini College, Purulia,
(W.B) 723101, INDIA.

2. PHARMACOLOGICALLY ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS
Plantsproducemanychemicalsthatarebiologicallyactive,notjustin
themselves,butalsoinotherorganisms.Someofthesechemicalsenhance
theirownsurvival.Someplantsproducechemicalsthatactasherbicidesto
inhibitthegrowthofcompetingplants,suchasthesalicylicacidproduced
bywillows.Otherplantsproducesubstancesthatdeterbrowsingbyinsects
andherbivores.
Mostofthepharmacologicallyactivecompoundsarederivedfromthe
biosyntheticpathwaysingeneralandsecondarymetabolisminparticular.
Thesecondarymetabolismproducessecondarymetabolitesandthese
metabolitesareproducedfromtheprecursorsderivedfromtheprimary
metabolism,
Thesecondarymetaboliteswhichpossessthetherapeuticvaluesaretermed
aspharmacologicallyactiveconstituentsandthesearediversesetof
compounds.
Thecompoundsaresynthesizedbythevirtueoftheirgeneticmakeupalong
withthedifferentexogenousfactorsofenvironmentlikestresseither
physical,chemicalorbiologicalinnature.

3. PHARMACOLOGICALLY ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS
Pharmacologicallyactiveconstituentsinplantsarechemicalcompoundsthat
exertmedicinaleffectsonthebody.Thesecompoundsareoftenclassifiedinto
groupslikealkaloids,flavonoids,tannins,andterpenoids,eachwithspecific
pharmacologicalproperties.
Alkaloids:
Thesearenitrogen-containingcompoundsthatcanactasanalgesics,nerve
stimulants,orlocalanesthetics.Examplesincludequinine,morphine,and
digoxin.Thisgroupiscomprisedofawidevarietyofplantsthatcontain
nitrogen-bearingmoleculesthatmakethemveryactive.Manyoftheseplants
havebeenusedtocreatewell-knowndrugsusedformedicinalpurposes.One
suchexample,vincristine,whichwasderivedfromtheMadagascarperiwinkle
(Catharanthuisroseus),isusedtotreatsometypesofcancer.Anotherexample
isatropine,whichisfoundindeadlynightshade.
Flavonoids:
Widelydistributedinplants,flavonoidspossessantioxidant,anti-inflammatory,
andantimicrobialproperties.Examplesincludequercetin,kaempferol,and
apigenin.Flavonoidsarefoundwidelythroughouttheplantworldandtheyhave
awiderangeofmedicinalusesandactions.Theyoftenactaspigmentsgivinga
yelloworwhitecolortoflowersandfruits.Someflavonoidshaveanti-viraland
anti-inflammatoryproperties.Flavonoidsfoundinmanyplantslikelemonand
buckwheatareknowntostrengthencapillariesandpreventleakageintotissues

4. PHARMACOLOGICALLY ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS
Tannins:
Thesecompoundshaveastringentpropertiesandcanbeusedforwoundhealing
andtoreducebleeding.Mostplantsproducetannins.Tanninsserveasa
deterrenttoherbivorebyinsectsandgrazinganimalsgiventhatthatthey
provideaharshunpalatableflavor.Tanninsarealsousefulincuringleather
becauseoftheirtendencytocontractandastringetissuesbybindingwith
precipitatingproteins.Examplesofplantshighintanninsincludeoakbarkand
blackcatechu/
Terpenoid:
Alargegroupofcompoundsincludingsaponins,sterols,andcardiacglycosides,
whichcanhavevariouspharmacologicaleffects.Examplesincludedigoxin,and
ginsenosides.
Glycosides:
Thesearecompoundswhereasugarmoleculeislinkedtoanothermolecule,
likeaglycoside,whichcanhavevariouspharmacologicaleffects.
EssentialOils:
Thesevolatilecompoundscanhaveantimicrobial,anti-inflammatory,andpain-
relievingproperties.

5. PHARMACOLOGICALLY ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS
FLAVONOIDS-Flavonoidsarefoundwidelythroughouttheplantworld
andtheyhaveawiderangeofmedicinalusesandactions.Theyoftenactas
pigmentsgivingayelloworwhitecolortoflowersandfruits.Some
Flavonoidshaveanti-viralandanti-inflammatoryproperties.Flavonoids
foundinmanyplantslikelemonandbuckwheatareknowntostrengthen
capillariesandpreventleakageintotissues.
SAPONINS:Thisgroupofactivecompoundsobtainsitsnamefromthe
factthatlikesoap,theyproducelatherwhenplacedinwater.Therearetwo
mainformsofsaponins:steroidalandtriterpenoid.Steroidalsaponinsare
verysimilartothechemicalstructuresofmanyofthehumanbody’s
hormonesincludingestrogenandcortisol.Examplesplantscontaining
saponinsincludeagave,wildyam,andseveralmembersofthelilyfamily.
Severalnativeplantsareusedinaprocesstoproducesynthetichormones
forhumans.
VITAMINS:Manyplantscontainhighlevelsofusefulvitamins.Many
well-knownfruitsandvegetableshavehighlevelsofvitaminCandbeta-
carotene.Lesser-knownvitamincontainingplantslikewatercress,rosehips,
andseabuckthornhavehighlevelsofvitaminsB,C,andE.

6. PHARMACOLOGICALLY ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS
POLYSACCHARIDES :Polysaccharidesarefoundinallplantsand
comprisedofmultipleunitsofsugarmoleculeslinkedtogether.For
medicinalpurposes,the“sticky”polysaccharidesproducemucilageorgums
thatarecommonlyfoundinbark,roots,leaves,andseeds.Thesesticky
polysaccharidesareabletosoakuplargequantitiesofwaterandformjelly
likemassesthatcanbeusedtotreatdryorirritatedtissuessuchasskinand
mucousmembranes.
PROANTHOCYANINS :Thesecompoundsarepigments,whichgive
fruitsandflowersred,purple,orbluehuesandarecloselyrelatedtotannins
andFlavonoids.Thesecompoundshavebeendocumentedtobevaluablein
protectionofcirculationspecificallyintheheart,eyes,andfeet.Redgrapes,
blackberries,andhawthornberriesallhavehighlevelsofproanthocyanins.
CYANOGENIC GLYCOSIDES:Theseglycosidesarebasedupon
cyanide,averydeadlypoison,butinsmalldoses,theycanserveasa
musclerelaxant.Thebarkofwildcherryandtheleavesofelderberry
(Sambucusracemosa)containcyanogenicglycosides,whichcanbeusedto
suppressandsoothedrycoughs.

7. PHARMACOLOGICALLY ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS
CARDIACGLYCOSIDES:Thesecompoundsarefoundinvariousmedicinal
plants(Foxglove,LilyoftheValley)andhavestrongdirectactionontheheart.
CardiacglycosidessuchasDigitoxin,digoxin,andconvallotoxinsupportheart
strengthandratesofcontractionwhenfailing.Thesecompoundsalsohavea
diureticeffectthatstimulatesurineproductionandaidsinremovaloffluidfrom
tissuesandthecirculatorysystem.
BITTERS:Thisgroupiscomprisedofavarietyofplantsthatarelumped
togetherbecauseoftheirverybittertaste.Thisbitternesscausesstimulationof
thesalivaryglandsanddigestiveorgans.Assuch,bitterscanbeusedtoimprove
appetiteandstrengthenthedigestivesystem.Examplesofbittersinclude
wormwoodandhops.
Phenols:
IncludePhenolicsacids,tannins,andCoumarins,whichcanhaveantioxidant,
anti-inflammatory,andantimicrobialproperties.Phenolsareplantcompounds
thatarethoughttobeproducedtoprotectagainstinfectionandherbivoreby
insects.Theyareoftenanti-inflammatoryandantisepticandcanhaveanti-viral
properties.Phenolsvaryinstructureandrangefromsalicylicacid(similarto
aspirin)tocomplexsugar-containingPhenolicsacids.Wintergreenandwillow
containsalicylates.Membersofthemintfamilyoftencontainphenols.

8. STEROIDS (SOLASODIN, DIOSGENIN, DIGITOXIN),
Plantsteroids,alsoknownasphytosterols,arenaturallyoccurringsteroids
foundinplants.Theyarestructurallysimilartocholesterolbutdifferinhaving
additionaldoublebondsandsidechains.Keyexamplesincludephytosterolslike
beta-sitosterol,campestanol,andstigmasterol,aswellasbrassinosteroids,which
actasplanthormones.
Phytosterols:
Theseareabundantinplantsandareoftenusedasdietarysupplementstohelp
lowercholesterol.
Brassinosteroids:
Thesesteroidhormonesarecrucialforvariousplantgrowthanddevelopment
processes,includingseedgerminationandstresstolerance.
SteroidalAlkaloids:
FoundinplantslikeSolanumandVeratrum,thesealkaloidshavevarious
biologicalactivities.
CardiacGlycosides:
Theseareanothertypeofsteroidalcompoundfoundincertainplants,with
exampleslikedigoxin,digitox,Solasodin,Diosgeninetc.

9. STEROIDS (SOLASODIN, DIOSGENIN, DIGITOXIN)
CholesterolAbsorptionInhibition:
Phytosterolscaninterferewiththeabsorptionofcholesterolinthegut,leading
toreducedLDL(bad)cholesterollevels.
PlantHormoneRegulation:
Brassinosteroidsareessentialforvariousaspectsofplantlife,includinggrowth,
development,andresponsestoenvironmentalstimuli.
CellMembraneStructure:
Plantsterolsareintegralcomponentsofcellmembranes,helpingplantsto
maintaintheirstructureandfunction.
OtherBiologicalActivities:
Someplantsteroids,likewithanolides,havebeenfoundtopossessanti-
inflammatoryandotherbiologicalproperties.
SOURCE:
i.Solasodin-Solanumnigram,Solanumkhusianum,Solanummauritianum
(Solanaceae),
ii.Diosgenin-Dioscoreaalata,Trigonellafoenum-graceum(Fenugreek),
Smilaxchina
iii.Digitoxin-Digitalispurpurea,Digitalislanata

10. SOLANUMNIGRAM

11. DIOSCOREAALATA

12. DIGITALISPURPUREA

13. TANNIN (CATECHIN)
Thesecompoundshaveastringentpropertiesandcanbeusedforwoundhealing
andtoreducebleeding,
Tanninsareplant-derived,Phenolicscompoundswidelyfoundinvariousplant
partslikebark,wood,leaves,andfruits.Theyplayakeyroleinplantdefense,
actingasdeterrentstoherbivoresandpathogens.Tanninsalsohavevarious
industrialandmedicinalapplications.
AbundanceandLocation:
Tanninsareamongthemostabundantsecondarymetabolitesinplants,often
comprising5%to10%ofthedryweightoftreeleaves.Theyarefoundin
almostallpartsoftheplant,includingbark,wood,leaves,buds,stems,fruits,
seeds,androots.
PlantDefense:
Tanninsserveasanaturaldefensemechanismagainstherbivores(animalsthat
eatplants)andpathogens(disease-causingorganisms).Theycanbetoxicto
insects,reducedigestibilityforlargeranimals,andinhibitthegrowthoffungi
andbacteria.
Astringency:Manytanninsareknownfortheirastringenttaste,whichgives
themapuckeringordryingsensationinthemouth.Thisastringencycanalso
helpdeterherbivore

14. TANNIN (CATECHIN)
IndustrialUses:
Tanninshavebeenusedforcenturiesinthetanningofleatherandarealsoused
intheproductionofinksanddyes,aswellasinwatertreatment.
MedicinalProperties:
Sometanninshavebeenshowntohavemedicinalproperties,including
antioxidantandanti-inflammatoryeffects.Theyhavealsobeenstudiedfortheir
potentialintreatingvariousdiseases,includingcancerandheartdisease.
TypesofTannins:
Therearetwomaintypesoftannins:hydrolyzabletanninsandcondensed
tannins.Hydrolyzabletanninsarewater-solubleandcanbebrokendowninto
simplercompounds,whilecondensedtanninsaremorecomplexandless
soluble.
StorageinPlants:
Tanninsareoftenstoredinvacuoles(storageorganelleswithinplantcells)to
protecttherestofthecellfromtheirpotentiallyharmfuleffects.
ExamplesofTannin-RichPlants:
ExamplesofplantsrichintanninsincludeCameliasinensis(Catechin)oak
trees,chestnuttrees,andcertainfruitslikepersimmonsandgrape

15. QUERCUSROBUR, FABACEAE,OAKTREES,

16. CAMELIASINENSIS

17. RESINS (GINGEROL, CURCUMINOIDS)
Plantresinsarecomplex,naturalsubstancesproducedbyvariousplants,
particularlytrees,asaprotectiveandhealingmechanism.Theyarecomposedof
terpenesandotherorganiccompounds,oftenformingastickyorhard,
translucentmaterial.Resinscanbefoundinspecialstructureswithintheplant,
likeresinducts,andaresecretedinresponsetoinjuryoraspartofnormal
metabolicprocesses.
SOURCE:
i.Gingerol-Zingiberofficinale(Oleoresins),
ii.Curcuminoids-Curcumalonga
FunctionsofPlantResins:
i.Protection:Resinsactasabarrieragainstinsects,herbivores,andpathogens,
preventingthemfrominvadingtheplant.
ii.Healing:Theysealwounds,preventingfurtherdamageandpromotingthe
plant'snaturalhealingprocess.
iii.Detoxification:Resinscanhelpisolateandcompartmentalizetoxicmetabolic
byproducts
Amber:Fossilized tree resin, particularly from gymnosperms.
Rosin:Derived from pine trees, used in various applications.
Copal:A type of resin from trees like Protiumcopal and Hymenaeacourbaril.
Dammar:Found in trees of the family Dipterocarpacea

18. ALKALOIDS (QUININE, ATROPINE. PILOCARPINE,
STRYCHNINE, RESERPINE, VINBALASTINE)
Alkaloidsarenitrogen-containing,secondaryplantmetabolites,oftenwith
diverseandcomplexstructures.Theyareknownfortheirdiversebiological
activities,includingdefenseagainstherbivoresandpathogens,andarealso
importantinpharmacology.Commonexamplesincludecaffeine,nicotine,and
morphin.
Definition:
Alkaloidsaredefinedasnitrogen-containingcompounds,typicallyheterocyclic,
thatarebasicinnatureandcanaccepthydrogenions.
Structure:
Theyarestructurallydiverse,belongingtovarioussubgroupslikepyridine,
tropane,isoquinoline,andothers.
Functionsinplants:
i.Defense:Manyalkaloidsaretoxictoherbivoresandotheranimals,deterring
themfromfeeding.
ii.NitrogenStorage:Theycanserveasastorageformofnitrogeninplants.
iii.GrowthRegulation:Somealkaloidshavestructuressimilartogrowth
regulatorsandcaninfluenceplantgrowthanddevelopment

19. ALKALOIDS (QUININE, ATROPINE. PILOCARPINE,
STRYCHNINE, RESERPINE, VINBALASTINE
i.Caffeine:Foundincoffee(Coffeaarabica-Rubiaceae),tea,and
cocoa(Theobromacacao-Malvaceae)beans.
ii.Nicotine:Presentintobaccoplants.(Nicotianatabacum,Solanaceae)
iii.Atropine-Atropabelladonna.Solanaceae,
iv.Pilocarpine-AllcitrusfruitoffamilyRutacae,
v.Strychnine-Strychnosnux-vomica,Loganiaceae,
vi.Reserpine-Rawolfiaserpentina,Apocynaceae,
vii.Vinblastine-Catharanthusroseus,Apocynaceae,
viii.Quinine-Cinchonaofficinalis,Rubiaceae
ix.Morphine:Isolatedfromopiumpoppies.
x.Quinine:Usedinthetreatmentofmalaria.
xi.Ephedrine:FoundinEphedraplantsandusedinsomemedications.
UsesinHumans:
Alkaloidshavebeenusedtraditionallyforvariouspurposes,including
medicinal,recreational,andasfoodadditives.
BioactiveProperties:
Alkaloidsareknownfortheirdiversepharmacologicalactivities,includinganti-
inflammatory,antibacterial,andanti-viraleffects

20. RAWOLFIASERPENTINA

21. STRYCHNOSNUX-VOMICA

22. PHENOLS (SENNOCIDE AND CAPSAICIN)
Phenolicscompoundsareadiversegroupofsecondarymetabolitesfoundin
plants,playingcrucialrolesinplantdefense,signaling,andvarious
physiologicalprocesses.Theyactasantioxidants,protectagainstenvironmental
stresses,andcontributetoplantgrowthanddevelopment.
Phenolicscompoundsarecharacterizedbyhavingabenzeneringwithoneor
morehydroxylgroups.
Theyarebroadlydistributedintheplantkingdomandareamongthemost
abundantsecondarymetabolites.
ExamplesincludePhenolicsacids,Flavonoids,tannins,andstilbenes.
Defenseagainstbioticandabioticstresses:
Phenolicsaresynthesizedinresponsetovariousstresses,includingpathogen
attacks,herbivores,andenvironmentalfactorslikedrought,salinity,andUV
radiation.Theyhelpplantscopewiththesestressesbyregulatingphysiological
processes,scavengingfreeradicals,andstabilizingcellmembranes.
Signaltransduction:
Phenolicscompoundscanactassignalingmolecules,influencingplantgrowth,
development,andreproduction.

23. PHENOLS (SENNOCIDE AND CAPSAICIN)
Plantqualityandsensoryproperties:
Theycontributetoplantqualitybyinfluencingcolor,flavor,andtexture,
especiallyinfruitsandvegetables.
Antioxidantactivity:
ManyPhenolicshavepotentantioxidantproperties,helpingtoprotectplants
fromoxidativedamagecausedbyreactiveoxygenspecies.
Allelopathic:
SomePhenolicscaninhibitthegrowthofneighboringplants,aphenomenon
knownasallelopathy.
ManyPhenolicshavebeneficialeffectsonhumanhealth,including
antioxidantandantimicrobialproperties,makingthemvaluableforthefood
andpharmaceuticalindustries.
SOURCE:
i. Sennocide-Cassiasenna(Fabaceae)
ii. Capsaicin-Solanumfrutiscens(Solanaceae)

24. CASSIASENNA(FABACEAE)

25. SOLANUMFRUTISCENS(SOLANACEAE)

26. THANKSFORYOURVISIT
REFERENCES:
US Forest Service (USDA),
Manual of Ethnobotany-Jain,
Google for images,
Different WebPages to explore the idea in the context of Medical Botany.
Disclaimer:
Theauthorisgratefultousesthedifferentonlinecontentsavailablein
Google.Thispresentationhasbeenpreparedtoenrichtheonlinestudy
materialsandresourceswithoutanyfinancialinterest.Itisfreetouseand
download.