Lecture 4

Classification of the seeds according to their active constituents: 1. Seeds containing Mucilage e.g. Linseed, Fenugreek & Psyllium. 2. Seeds containing Derived volatile oil e.g. Black mustard. 3. Seeds containing Alkaloids e.g. Nux vomica & Colchicum. 4. Seeds containing Volatile oil e.g. Cardamom, Nutmeg. 5. Seeds containing Cardiac glycosides e.g. Strophanthus. 6. Seeds containing Fixed oil e.g. Almond seed & Castor seed.

Seeds containing Cardiac Glycoside

Strophanthus

Semen Strophanthi
Syn.: Strophanthus Seed; Arrow poison seed. Origin: Dried ripe seeds of Strophanthus kombe & other species deprived of their awn, Fam. Apocynaceae.

Strophanthus
Strophanthus kombe: Shape: flattened, lanceolate to ovate lanceolate with broken point after removal of awn, covered with hair. Type of Ovule: anatropous. Type of Seed: Albuminous. Awn Type of embryo: Straight. Seed Odor: slight unpleasant odor. Taste: bitter. Histology: epidermal cells are trihomes but with one lignified rib.

Remember what is cardiac glycosides? Composed of aglycone + sugar part. Aglycone = steroidal nucleus + lactone ring. The lactone ring is either 5 membered lactone ring (cardenolide) & 6 membered lactone ring (bufadienolide). Sugar part should contain deoxy sugar e.g. cymarose or digitoxose.

Strophanthus
Active Constituents: 1. Cardiac glycoside (K-strophanthin or Kstrophanthoside or Strophanthin or strophoside) is a mixture of cymarin, Kstrophanthoside B, K- strophanthoside A] 2. Fixed oils (30%). 3. Alkaloids: choline & trigonelline. 4. Resin.

Enzymatic & Acid Hydrolysis of K-strophanthoside

Acid hydrolysis Strophanthidin + cymarose + beta glucose + alpha glucose

K-strophanthoside

Alpha glucosidase

K-strophanthin B + alpha glucose Acid hydrolysis Strophanthobiase

Cymarin + beta glucose

CH

CH 2 OH O OH Cymarose O OH Cymarol CHO O OH Cymarose O O OH glucose O glucose O CH

3

C y m a rin

K -stro p h a n th o sid e

K -stro p h a n th o sid e a

Chemical test:********
Prepare chloroformic extract of the powder: 1 g. powder + 10 ml 70% alc. filter Filterate + lead acetate filter Filterate E.T.D. Chloroform Residue Extract with CHCL3 E.T.D. Residue

Keller Killiani test for 2-deoxy sugar

Gl. Acetic acid+2 dps. Fecl3 c. H2SO4 on wall

Baljets test for 5membered lactone ring

Keddes test for 5-membered lactone ring

Brown layer at junction & upper layer is bluish green

Orange color

Violet color

Strophanthus
Test of Identity: [K-strophanthin] When the section or powder of seeds is treated with sulphuric (80%), the endosperm acquires an emerald green color while the embryo acquires a green color. Action & Uses : 1. Cardiac stimulant & cardiotonic. It is used in congestive heart failure {c.f. digitalis}. 2. It is mild diuretic by improving blood flow in the kidneys. 3. It is less cummulative & less gastrointestinal irritant than digitalis (advantage).

Seeds containing Fixed Oil

Almond seed. Castor seed

ALMOND SEED Syn.: Sweet & bitter almond. Origin: Dried ripe seed of Prunus communins var. dulcis (sweet) and Prunus communis var. amara (bitter). Fam. Rosaceae.

Active Constituents:

Bitter almond:

Sweet almond:

A cyanogentic glycoside, amygdalin (2.5-4%). Fixed oil, obtained by pressing. Protein. Enzyme emulsin.

No amygdalin.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fixed oil (40 - 50 %). Protein. Enzyme emulsin.

What happens upon crushing & trituration of bitter & sweet almond seeds with water ? Bitter almond yields an emulsion having a characteristic odor of HCN & benzaldehyde (bitter almond odor). Sweet almond on the contrary yields an emulsion of no marked odor & a nutty taste.

Action & Uses:

Bitter almond Sedative & flavoring but with care due to HCN. Sweet almond - Expensive base for ointments in cosmetics. - Demulcent & nutritive. - Source of fixed oil.

Official Oils: 1. Oleum amygdala: (E.P) It is the fixed oil of almond produced by expression, used in cosmetics and soap preparation. 2. Bitter almond Oil: (official in N.F.) [derived volatile oil !!!!!!!!!] It is obtained from the cake left after removal of fixed oil. Seeds are crushed, mixed with water. Mixture is then steam distilled whereby HCN & benzaldehyde are obtained in the water distillate. Amygdalin Amygdalase H2O Prunasin + Glucose. Prunasin
Prunase H2O

Benzaldehyde + HCN + Glucose.

HCN is then removed by shaking the oil with Ca (OH)2 , then adding FeSO4 to give calcium ferrocyanide {Fixation of HCN}. The mixture is then steam distilled to obtain the purified oil of bitter almond (95% benzaldehyde) .

Castor Seed
Origin: The dried ripe seed of Ricinus communis Fam. Euphorbiaceeae.

Outgrowth: Caruncle.

Active Constituents:

Fixed oil (50 %). Protein. Alkaloid ricinine. Ricin (toxic protein or lectin). Lipase enzyme. Tocopherols (vit. E)

Uses: Castor oil is most valuable laxative for children & aged people & before any X-ray (due to ricinoleic acid).

Preparation of Castor Oil: The seeds are cold expressed, filtered. Then steamed at 80-100C (to coagulate proteins especially ricin & lipase). Filter to give the oil. Castor seed oil is triglyceride of ricinoleic, isoricinoleic, stearic and dihydroxystearic acids.

Bark (Cortex)

What is meant by

Bark?

Bark is defined as All tissues outside cambium of woody plants. Plz answer the following questions:
1. 2. 3.

Do u remember the layers of the stem? What is cambium (1 ry & 2 ry)? What is secondary thickenings?

Layers of Young stem:

1. Epidermis 2. Primary cortex 3. Pericycle 4. 1ry phloem 5. Cambium 6. 1ry xylem 7. Pith
Activation of the cork cambium to protect the internal tissues

Activation of the cambium to give secondary thickening Appears first.

1. Rhytidoma (dead collapsed tissues) 2. Periderm:

a.Cork (Phellem) b. Cork cambium (phellogen). c. 2ry cortex (phelloderm).

Outer or shell bark

3. Primary cortex. 4. Pericycle. 5. 1ry phloem. 6. 2ry phloem (Bast). 7. Cambium.

Middle bark

Inner bark

8. 2ry xylem 9. 1ry xylem 10. Pith

Wood

Remember!!!!!!
1.

The cork cambium may start in the bark & Wherever it is activated, it produces cork to the outside & secondary cortex to the inside. If all layers of the bark are present, it is termed complete bark. If any layer of the tissue of the bark is removed, it is termed incomplete bark.

2.

3.

Decortication of Bark: Removal of cork, secondary cortex or whole tissues outside the 2ry phloem. Why?
1. 2.

It contains low % of or no active constituents. It contains higher % of undesirable compounds e.g. tannins & coloring matter.

Shape
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Flat. Curved. Channeled Quill (Single quill). Double Quill. Compound Quill.

Fracture
Definition: Behavior of the barks when broken across transversely & the appearance of the exposed surface.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Short: breaks quickly & straight across the fractured surface. Fibrous: resists during breaking & shows fibrous projection. Splintery: breaks irregularly showing jagged projecting points. Granular: broken surface shows grain. Laminated: breaks into tangentially arranged layers. Flexible: breaks only by tearing or twisting.

How to Differentiate between Stem & Root Bark ?

Item Position of cork cambium Stem bark Root bark

Any where 1. Darker than inner surface.

In the pericycle***** 1.Both inner & outer surfaces have the same color; Lighter. 2.No epiphytes. 3.No lenticels.

Outer surface

2. Shows epiphytes. 3. Presence of lenticels.

Shape

Thicker

Thinner

Histology of the Bark:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Rhytidoma (dead tissue). Cork (Phellem). Phellogen (cork cambium). Phelloderm (secondary cortex). Primary Cortex. Pericycle. Primary Phloem. Secondary phloem.

Define Calloses & Keratenchyma:

Calloses: In autumn, Sieve tube is blocked on either side by a highly refractive pad called callus or callus plate made of polysaccharide called callose which is stained red with corallin soda reagent and redissolved in spring thus they may function again. Keratenchyma: These callus plates permanently close the tubes thus due to the internal pressure, the tubes get collapsed and may form a compact irregular hyaline mass.

Barks containing: 1. Alkaloids e.g. Cinchona & pomengranate. 2. Volatile oils e.g. Cinnamon & Cassia. 3. Anthraquinone glycosides e.g. Cascara & Frangula. 4. Saponin glycosides e.g. Quillaia.
Remember in each case: Nature of A.C. General test for detection. Presence of these A.C. in other organs (nature & name)????