UNIT 2.4.ppt INTRODUCTION TO PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOUNDS

PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOUNDS

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General Introduction, Pharmacognostical scheme study of following
Metabolites:
1. Alkaloids:Vinca, Rauwolfia, Belladonna, Opium
2. Glycosides:
2.1. Cardiac glycosides: Digitalis
2.2. Saponin glycosides: Dioscorea, Liquorice
2.3.. Anthraquinone glycosides: Senna, Aloe, Bitter Almond
3. Phenyl Propanoids & Phenols
3.1. Lignans
3.2. Flavonoids: Tea, Ruta
3.3. Tannins: Catechu, Pterocarpus
4. Resins: Asafoetida, Benzoin, Colophony, Guggul, Ginger, Myrrh
5. Volatile oils (Terpenoids): Clove, Cinnamon, Coriander, Fennel,
Mentha,
6. Iridoids & Napthaquinones : Artemisia, Gentian, Taxus
7. Carotenoids
UNIT-II 14 Hours

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Unit 2.4. Resins
•Resins are amorphous mixtures of essential oils and oxygenated products
of terpenes, transparent or translucent solids, semi solid or liquid
substances.
•They have complex chemical nature and contains large no of carbon
atoms.
•Resins are insoluble in water and heavier than water but they are soluble
in non polar solvents like benzene or ether, volatile oils, fixed oils and
alcohol.
The pharmaceutical applications of resins are
•Local irritant, local cathartic (e.g. Jalap, Ipomoea),
•As anticancer (Podophyllum),
•In bronchial asthma (Cannabis),
•Used externally as mild antiseptic in the form of tinctures (Benzoin),
•Ointment and plasters (Turpentine and Colophony)
•Used in the preparation of emulsion and sustained release formulations.

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CLASSIFICATION
1. Depending upon the type of the constituents:

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1.Acid resins
Colophony contains abietic acid, Copaiba (copaivic and oxycopaivic
acid), Myrrh (Commiphoric acid) etc
2. Ester resins
Benzoin (Coniferyl benzoate), Storax (Cinnamyl cinnamate)etc.
3. Resin alcohols: complex alcohols of high molecular weight.
Peru balsam (Peru resino tannol), Guaiacum resin (Guaic resinol).

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2. Depending upon combination with other Constituents:

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Depending upon combination with other Constituents:
1. Gum resin: Gum resins are in homogenous combination of gum and resin.
These are always associated with small quantities of other substances like
bitter principle, enzymes and volatile oils
etc.It may consist of two or more glycosidal acids in various proportions and
contains trace amount of nitrogen e.g. Myrrh.
2. Oleo resin: When resins are in homogenous combination with volatile oils or
oily liquids, are called oleo resin. They are secreted in schizogenous or
schizolysigenous ducts. Ginger, Capsicum, Turpentine oil.
3. Oleo gum resin: These resins are in homogenous combination with volatile
oil and gum. e.g.Asafoetida.
4. Balsam resin: Those oleo resins which contain aromatic acids like benzoic
acid or Cinnamic acid are known as balsam resin e.g. Benzoin.
5. Glycoresin:These are made up of resin along with sugars e.g.Jalap,Ipomoea

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CHEMICAL TESTs
1.Solubility test: Resin dissolves when treated with organic solvents
like alcohol, ether or chloroform etc.
2.Ignition test: They produces smoky flame upon burning.
3.HCl test: Drug is treated with hydrochloric acid which forms pink
colour, ensures the presence of resins.
4.Ferric chloride test: The greenish blue colour develops when drug
is treated with ferric chloride solution. This indicates the presence of
resins

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Resins – Examples – In Syllabus
Asafoetida
Benzoin
Colophony
Ginger
Guggul
Myrrh

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1. ASAFOETIDA - Synonyms: Hing, Ferula.
Biological source:
It is an oleo gum resin obtained from the roots of Ferula foetida Regel, F.
Rubricaulis Boissier. Family: Umbelliferae.
GS: Afganistan,Persia and Central Asia.
Description:
Forms: Paste, tear (pure form) and mass bulk (block or lump).
Shape: Tears are separate, rounded or flattened.
Size: 0.5-4 cm in diameter.
Colour: Dull yellow or dingy grey colour which changes in to reddish
brown on storage.
Odour: Intense, penetrating, persistent, alliaceous smell.
Taste: Bitter, acrid and alliaceous.

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Chemical Constituents:
•The main constituents are volatile oil (10-17%), resin (40-65%) and gum
(1.5-10%).
•It also contains 1.5 % of free ferulic acid and 16 % of unstable ester of
ferulic acid with asaresinol. Volatile oil contains pinene and various
disulphides (C
7
H
14
S
2
, C
11
H
20
S
2
, C
10
H
16
S
2
).
•Ferulic acid yields umbellic acid, when it is treated with hydrochloric acid,
loses water molecule and forms umbelliferone.

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Uses:
•It is a powerful nervine tonic,
•used in the treatment of Hysteria, bowel stimulant, expel flatulence,
relieves constipation
•flavouring agent.

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2. BENZOIN - Synonyms: Loban, Sumatra Benzoin.
Biological Source: It is a balsamic resin obtained by Styrax species.
There are two types of benzoin available in market
1.Sumatra benzoin: It is obtained from Styrax benzoin (Family -
Styraceae).
2.Siam benzoin: It obtained from Styrax tonkinesis (Family-Styraceae)
Geographical source:
Sumatra benzoin -South Eastern Asia
Siam benzoin - Thailand and Vietnam

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Macroscopical characters:
Sumatra Benzoin Siam Benzoin
Colour Grey or greyish brown Rusty- brown or Yellowish-
brown
Odour Characteristic and
aromatic
Pleasant and vanilla flavor
Taste Sweet and slight acrid Sweet and slight acrid
Form Lump or tear form Hard and brittle masses
Size Varying size Varying size
Texture Uneven Brittle

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Chemical constituent:
•It contains free balsamic acids i.e.benzoic acid and cinnamic acids and its
derived esters.
•It also contains triterpenoid acids like summaresinolic acid and siaresinolic
acids
•Siam benzoin contains esters of coniferyl benzoate (76%). Other
constituents are styrol, vanillin and phenyl propyl cinnamate. Siam benzoin
contains inadequate amount of cinnamic acid so it does not give odour of
benzaldehyde when heated with potassium permagnate solution.

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Uses:
•It is used as irritating expectorant, diuretic and carminative.
•Externally it is applied as an antiseptic and protective. It also uses in the
form of inhalant in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infection.
•It is also used in tincture form. Industrially, it is used in odour fixation of
incenses, soaps, perfumes, cosmetics and other preparation.
•It also masks the taste of pharmaceutical preparations. It retards the
rancidity of fats and oils (in benzoated lard preparation).

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3. COLOPHONY - Synonyms: Pine resin
Biological source: Colophony is the solid residue of turpentine oil left after
distilling the crude oleo resin obtained from Pinus species like Pinus
palustris, P. echinata, P. maritime, P. longifolia. Family: Pinaceae.
GS: It is mainly prepared in Pakistan, South East USA, North America,
South West France, Europe and India(in Himalayan territories).
Macroscopical Characters:
Colour: Amber coloured or sometimes Yellowish to yellowish brown.
Odour: Faint.
Taste: Angular, Translucent masses.
Size: Varies in size.
Appearance: Glossy appearance with brittle nature.

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Chemical Constituents:
•It mainly contains unsaturated resin acids principally abietic acid (nearly
90%), esters of oleic acids, volatile oil (0.5 %), resenes (5 to 6 %), sapenic
acid, pimaric acid etc.
•The un saponifiable matter of colophony contains high molecular weight
alcohols and hydrocarbons.

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Uses:
•It is used as diuretic, stimulant, ointment preparation, varnishes
manufacturing, insula-tors, soaps, ink preparations.
•It is also used in flooring preparation, soldering compounds, mastics and
pressure sensitive adhesive manufacturing.

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4. GINGER - Synonyms: Adarak, Zingiber.
Biological source:
Ginger belongs to oleo gum resin category and is obtained from the rhizomes
of Zingiber officinale Roscoe. Family: Zingiberaceae.
Geographical source: It is indigenous to South East Asia
Macroscopical Characters:
Colour: Buff or earthy brown.
Odour: Characteristic, Agreeable and Aromatic.
Taste: Pungent.
Size: Rhizomes are 5 to 15 cm in length and 2 to 6 cm in width.
Shape: Rhizomes are laterally compressed, bears short, flat, ovate branches
and bud at apex.
Fracture: Fibrous, short.

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Chemical Constituents:
•It contains volatile oil, fat, starch, moisture, resinous matter, fibre and
inorganic material etc.
•The oil contains hydrocarbons (monoterpene and sesquiterpene),
oxygenated derivatives of terpenes and phenyl propanoids.
•The specific aroma of ginger is due to the presence of volatile oils whereas
the pungency and therapeutic action is due to the presence of phenolic
ketones which includes gingerols like Zingerone, gingediols, paradols,
shogaols,
Gingerols
Pungenc
y

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Uses:
•It is used as stomachic, carminative, aromatic, stimulant and flavouring
agent.
•Ginger has molluscicidal effects and controls parasitic infections.
•It also blocks the gastro intestinal reactions and nausea feeling.
•It causes adsorption of toxins and increases the gastric motility.
•It is also effective in the control of nausea and vomiting in Hyperemesis
gravidarum as well as postoperative nausea and vomiting.
•Ginger also possess cardiovascular activity, antiplatelet aggregation
property, analgesic, antipyretic, antitussive, antibacterial, anthelmintic,
fungicidal and antiulcer activity.
•Limed ginger is the coated ginger with lime which improves its colour and
quality. It is mainly done for long storage of ginger.
•Its oil is used in mouth, washes, beverages and liquor preparation.

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5. GUGGUL – Synonym- Gum guggul
Biological source: Guggul belongs to the oleogum resin category and
obtained from Commiphora weightii, Commiphora mukul by making deep
incision at the basal part of stem bark. Family: Burseracae.
GS: native to African arid zones like Ethopia, Somalia, Kenya, Zaire and
Zimbabwe and cultivated in Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat.
Description:
Colour: Brown or pale yellow or dull green.
Odour: Aromatic, balsamic and Pleasant.
Taste: Bitter and Characteristic.
Size: 1 to 2.5 cm in diameter.
Shape: Circular, irregular masses or agglomerated tears.
Solubility: Forms white emulsion with water, partly soluble in alcohol

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Chemical Constituent:
Major constituents are Guggulsterone E and Z, resin, gum, volatile oil and
minor constituents are oleogum resin which is a complex mixture of
various classes of chemical compounds such as lignans, lipids, diterpene,
steroids etc

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Uses:
•Guggul used as anti inflammatory, hypolipidemic, anti rheumatic and hypo
cholesteremic drug. Guggul extract lowers total lipid, serum cholesterol and
triglyceride level and reduces the serum p- lipoprotein level and to alter the
lipoprotein ratio significantly.
•immunomodulatory effect.
•Crude gum, oleo gum resin, alcohol extract and petroleum ether extract have
showed some side effect like skin rashes and diarrhea. It enhances the
menstrual discharge so it should not be taken during pregnancy.

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6. MYRRH - Synonyms: Gum Myrrh,
Biological Source: It is a gum resin obtained from the stem of Commiphora
molmol Engier. Family: Burseracae.
GS: It is mainly collected from Somaliland in the north east of Africa and
south of Arabia
Description:
Shape: Irregular rounded tears Size: 2.5 to 10 cm in diameter.
Texture: Rough, dull and dusty surface.
Fracture: Brittle, granular fracture.
Colour: Reddish brown.
Odour: Agreeable aromatic.
Taste: Unpleasant, aromatic, bitter, acrid.

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Chemical Constituents:
The drug contains mixture of resin (25%), volatile oil (2.5-6.5%) and gum
(60%). Along with these compounds, three free resin acids, β and -
Commiphoric acids, esters of resin acid, commiphorinic acid, two phenolic
resins and -heerabomyrrhol, volatile oil consist terpene, cuminic aldehyde
and eugenol etc

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Uses:
It has stimulant, antiseptic property, uterine stimulant, emmenagogue.

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Plant drug Biological name Chemistry uses
Asafoetida
Ferula foetida
(Umbelliferae)
ferulic acid, umbellic acid,
umbelliferone
nervine tonic, , relieves
constipation and
flavouring agent.
Benzoin Sumatra benzoin & Siam
benzoin (Styracece)
Sumaresinolic acid,
Siaresinolic acid
expectorant, diuretic and
carminative, anti septic
Colophony Pinus palustris (Pinaceae) resin acids-abietic acid diuretic, stimulant,
ointment preparation,
Ginger Zingiber officinale
(Zingiberaceae)
gingerols shagols s stomachic,
carminative, aromatic,
stimulant and flavouring
agent
Guggul Commiphora mukul
(Burseracae)
Guggulsterone E and Z Anti hyperlipidemic, Anti
obese
Myrryh Commiphora molmol
(Burseracae)
-Commiphoric acids stimulant, antiseptic
property, uterine
stimulant,
emmenagogue.