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Tannins: Muhammad Tanveer Khan
Tannins: Muhammad Tanveer Khan
Tannins: Muhammad Tanveer Khan
The term tannin was first time coined by Seguin in 1796. This
term was used to denote substances present in plant extract
which react with protein of animal hide, prevent their
putrefaction and convert hide and skin into leather.
Definition
“Complex substances that usually occur as mixtures of
polyphenols that are very difficult to separate since they don't
crystallize, are called tannins.”
OR
(i) Precipitation
(ii) Anti-oxidizing properties
(iii) Astringent
(iv) Carcinogenicity
(v) Reaction with salts
(vi) Reaction with potassium ferricyanide and ammonia
(i) Precipitation
Tannins have ability to precipitate solutions of;
Gelatin
Alkaloids
Glycosides
Heavy metals
Proteins
(iv) Carcinogenicity
Prolong use of tannin containing plant material is hazardous
because it causes cancer. Habitual use of Areca catechu can
cause oral and esophageal cancer.
(v) Reaction with salts
Tannins
Precursors:
Phenolic acid (Gallic acid, Ellagic acid)
Glucose residue
Between phenolic acids and glucose sugar, there is
ester linkage
Properties:
Types:
Hydrolysable tannins
Gallitannins Ellagitannins
Gallitannins Ellagitannins
Precursors:
Flavonoid
Catechin
Flavonol-3-4-diol
Properties:
When heated with acids, these are self condensated,
polymerized and converted to insoluble red colored
complexes, called Phlobaphenes.
Examples:
Hamamelis
Cinchona
Cinnamon
(iii) Complex tannins
These tannins are mixtures of both, hydrolysable and
condensed tannins
Examples:
Tea
Quercus
Castanea
2nd Classification
Tannin is a substance which is detected qualitatively by tanning
test (The Gold beater’s skin test) and quantitatively by its
adsorption on standard hide powder.
Tannins
Gelatin test:
Solution of tannin (0.5%-1%) precipitates 1% solution of gelatin
containing 10% sodium chloride.
Identification tests
Phenazone test:
Take 5ml of aqueous extract of drug.
Add 0.5grams of sodium acid phosphate.
Warm it and cool.
Filter solution.
To the filtrate, add 2%solution of Phenazone.
Tannins will be precipitated.
Precipitates will be bulky and colored.
Identification tests
Gold beater’s skin test:
Gold beater’s skin is a membrane prepared from intestine of Ox
and I behaves similarly to un tanned skin.
Family:
Hamamelidaceae
Part used:
Dried leaves
Collection:
Leaves are collected throughout
summers. Drying is done in
open air, preferably under
shade to preserve green
color.
Constituents:
Gallitannins
Ellagitannins
Free gallic acid
Pro-anthocyanadins
Hamamelase
Uses:
Astringent
Anti-hemorrhagic
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-carcinogenic
b) Catechu
Botanical origin:
Uncaria gambir
Family:
Rubiaceae
Part used:
Dried aqueous extract from leaves and
young twigs
Collection:
Boil leaves and twigs in water.
Evaporate to a pasty consistency.
Paste is put in cubes and dried in
sun.
Constituents:
Catechin
Catechutannic acid
Catechu red
Quercitin
Gambir flourescin
Uses:
Astringent
Dying
Tanning industry
c) Nutt gall
Botanical origin:
Quercus infectoria
Family:
Fagaceae
Part used:
Galls obtained from
twigs
Formation of galls:
Galls are pathological outgrowth formed on twigs of tree. Galls
arise due to deposition of eggs by small insect Adleria
galactinctoria.
Steps are;
Early summers, insects lay eggs on twigs
Larvae come out from eggs and enter soft epidermis.
Larvae secretes enzyme that stimulates abnormal growth around
larvae.
Starch in the tissue gets converted to sugars and stimulate cell
division.
Disappearance of starch causes cell shrinkage.
Central cavity is formed in which larvae and pupae grows.
Larvae remains in gall for 5-6months.
Mature insect bores the covering of gall and escapes away.
Galls are collected before escaping of insect.
Constituents:
Tannic acid
Gallic acid
Ellagic acid
Roburic acid
Syringic acid
Calcium oxalate crystals
Uses:
Haemostatic
Antidote for alkaloidal poisoning
Astringent