Tannins


Historically, tannins containing drugs are related to
their tanning property i.e. their ability to transform
fresh hides into imputrescible leather.
Complex organic, non-nitrogenous plant products
Derivative of polyhydroxy
 Thiscapability of tannins to combine with
macromolecules explains why they
precipitate cellulose, pectins, and proteins

 Theconsequence of tanning is the formation of

bonds between the collagen fibers in the hide,
which imparts resistance to water, heat, and
abrasion.
 Classification of tannins
 based on Goldbeaters skin test

positive Upon knowing the negative

tanning test characteristic of tanning test
Tannins, what is the
logical positive result
with Goldbeaters Skin
True tannin Pseudotannin
Test?

ANSWER:
 True
tannins
Hydrolysabl Non Hydrolysable
e tannins tannins
 Hydrolysable tannins
 These
are ester of sugars and phenolic acid
molecules
Phenolic
acid

Sugar
part
 Hydrolysable tannins
Hydrolysable tannins on heating with hydrochloric
or sulfuric acids yield:
gallic or ellagic acids .

Eg- Myrobalon (Terminalia chebula 

Combretaceae),
Bahera (Terminalia belerica Combretaceae), 
witch hazel 
  Phenolic acid either
Gallic acid Ellagic acid
or

Gallotannins
e.g: Ellagitannins
• rhubarb
• Gall
e.g:
• Clove
• pomegranate
• eucalyptus
 on
dry distillation are converted to pyrogallol
derivatives.

 The hydrolysable tannins are soluble in water

and their solution
produces blue color with ferric chloride .
 Condensed

tannins
They consist of flavan-3-ol
units linked together by
carbon-carbon bonds

 most often 4 8 or 4 6
 Condensed tannins occur due to polymerization
(condensation) reactions between flavonoids.

 The polymers may include up to 50 monomer units.

 On treatment with acids or enzymes condensed tannins

are converted into red insoluble compounds known as
PHLOBAPHENES .
 Ondry distillation, they yield catechol
derivatives.

 Condensed tannins are also soluble in water

and produces green color with ferric
chloride .
MATCH STICK TEST:
When a match stick is dipped in tannin extract
followed by HCl & warmed near a
flame it turns .

The wood of the matchstick has

. Upon hydrolysis of the tannins due to HCl,

is formed which reacts with
the lignin of the wood to produce the pink
colour.
 Pseudotannins
 They are compounds of lower molecular weight than
true tannins and they do not respond to the
.
 Examples of drugs containing Pseudotannins are:
Gallic acid: Rhubarb
Catechins: Guarana, Cocoa
Chlorogenic acid: Mate, Coffee
Ipecacuanhic acid: ipecacuanha
 Properties and tests of
 Tanninstannins
are soluble in water, dilute alkalis, alcohol,
glycerol and acetone, but generally only sparingly
soluble in other organic solvents.

 Solutions precipitate heavy metals, alkaloids,

glycosides and gelatin.

 With ferric salts, gallitannins and ellagitannins

give and condensed
tannins .
1. Goldbeater's skin test
Soak a small piece of goldbeater's skin in 2% hydrochloric
acid; rinse with distilled water and place in the solution to
be tested for 5 min. Wash with distilled water and transfer
to a 1% solution of ferrous sulphate.
 Uses of Tannins
 Industrially;
in leather tanning, ink
manufacture.

 Medicinally;astringent, haemostatic,
antidiarrheal, antidote in alkaloid and heavy
metals toxicity.

 Inlabs; reagent for detection of proteins,

alkaloids and heavy metals because of their
precipitating properties.
 Hydrolysable
WITCHTannins
HAZEL / HAZEL NUT /
BIOLOGICAL SOURCE: leaves of Hammamelis
virginiana
Family: Hammamelidaceae
USES 
1.Although tannins are not carried over in the 
distillation process, hammamelis water is
nevertheless utilized for its so called astringent
properties

2. It is incorporated in hemorrhoidal products

3. Preparations for treating insect bites and

stings 
and even teething preparations

4. The contained volatile oil does not confer a 

pleasant fragrance to such products
Celeteque Toner (With Witch
Hazel Extract)

What is the effect of

Celeteque Toner (with
Witch Hazel Extract)
to skin upon
application?

ANSWER:
 Hydrolysable
Tannins
NUTGALLS 
BIOLOGICAL SOURCE -. obtained from gall 
wasps Quercus infectoria
Family: fagaceae 

WASP: Cynips tinctoria

(Cynipdae)
Quercus infectoria
(Fagaceae)
Nutgal
l
 Collection:
When the larva begins To develop and
the gall begins to enlarge, the cells of
the outer and the central zones contain
numerous small starch grains
 Tannic
Collection 
When the insect emerges from acid
the gall a hole 
to the central cavity is f ormed. Thus, the
tannic acid, owing to the presence of
si Mu
mo t oriestaunrde
it may be oxidized in part in to an insoluble 
asamore
nrid air
porous,
product, and the gall
become thereby the white gall of
constituting commerce.
 
CONSITUENTS 
The principal constituent is tannic acid which is 
found to the extent of 50-70%
The drug also contains gallic acid, 2 to 4% 
Ellagic acid, Starch, Resin
USE/S 
Nutgall, the chief source of tannic acid is used in the 
tanning and in the dying industry and, formerly in the
manuf
acture of ink. Medicinally, It has astringent
proper
ties
 Condensed
Tannins
BLACK CATECHU 
BIOLOGICAL SOURCE -. Heart wood of Acacia 
catechu / Acacia chundra

Family- leguminosae 

Uses: 
Astringents, treatment of ulcers, diarrhoea, & in 
tanning industry.
Tannic Acid/Gallotannic
Acid/ Tannin
a tannin usually obtained from nutgall . The 
powdered galls are extracted with a mixture of
ether, alcohol, and water and the liquid
separates into two layers. The aqueous layer
contains gallotannin and the ethereal layer
contains free gallic acid. After separation, the
solution of gallotannin is evaporated and the
tannin is purified in various ways
Tannic Acid/Gallotannic
Acid/ Tannin
Composition 
Tannic acid is not a single homogenous 
compound but is a mixture of esters of gallic
acid with glucose whose exact composition
varies according to its source
Tannic Acid/Gallotannic
Acid/ Tannin
DESCRIPTION 
Tannic acid occurs as amorphous powder, 
glistening scales, or spongy masses that
are light brown to yellowish white.
Chinese galls / Japanese
galls
Wu bei zi
 Chinese galls
(Rhus
chinensis
Anacardiaceae

Melaphis chinensis
(Pemphigidae)
Aphids (plant lice)