Tests for tannins and phenolic glycosides

Test
Ferric chloride test

Reagents
5% FeCl3

Results

Notes

Blue color is produced which changes

With ferric salts, gallitannins and

to olive green as more ferric chloride

ellagitannins give blue-black

precipitates and condensed
tannins

is added

brownish-green ones
gelatin test

1% Gelatin solution containing

Precipitation

Solutions of tannins precipitate a

10% NaCl

1% solution of gelatin containing

10% sodium chloride
Gallic acid and other
pseudotannins
also precipitate gelatin if the
solutions
are sufficiently concentrated

tests for cardiac glycosides

The tests and assays available for cardio-active medicinals depend on biological activity, reactions of the sugar side-chain of the glycosides,
and properties of the butenolide side-chain
Test
liebermann-burchard
test

Reagents
Glacial acetic acid,
dichloromethane,

Results
Blue-green color

conc. H2SO4
Salkowski test

Dichloromethane, conc. H2SO4

Notes
Positive for most triterpenes and
sterols

Formation of red color in the lower

layer

Red - sterols are present

or formation of yellow color in the lower

Yellow - triterpenoids are present

layer
baljet test

Picric acid in ethanol, NaOH TS

Yellow to orange color

Legal test

Pyridine, 0.5% recently prepared

Formation of pink color

sodium nitroprusside, 0.2 N NaOH

Yellow to orange color forms in the

presence of aglycones or
glycosides
Formation of pink color indicates
the
presence of glycosides or aglycone
moiety

Keller-killiani test

Glacial acetic acid, 5% FeCl3,

conc. H2SO4,

Bitonio, Marky Donelly Y.

Ph Ch 128 Lab 2nd semester 2014-2015

Formation of reddish-brown layer forms

at the junction of the two liquids and
the
upper layer slowly becomes bluishgreen,

darkening with standing

test for saponins

Test

Reagents

froth test

Results

Notes

Formation of foam

test for flavonoids

Test
shinoda test

Reagents
Magnesium powder or ribbon, conc.
HCl

Results
Formation of red color

sulfuric acid

conc. H2SO4

Formation of orange color

Notes

test for cyanogenic glycosides

Cyanogenic glycosides yield hydrocyanic acid (HCN), benzaldehyde, and sugars on hydrolysis.
The medicinal activity of cyanogenetic glycosides is due to presence of hydrocyanic acid and these are the characteristics of family
Rosaceae.
Test
sodium picrate test

Reagents
10% aqueous picric acid, 10% Na2CO3

Results
Filter paper will become brick red

Notes
Hydrocyanic acid turns the filter
paper
brick red

test for alkaloids

Test

Reagents

Results

(1% HCl)
Formation of creamy-white
precipitate

mayer's reagent

Mercuric-potassium iodide TS

valser's reagent

Mercuric iodide TS

wagner's reagent
dragendorff's
reagent

Iodine TS

Formation of white precipitate

Formation of reddish-brown
precipitate

Bismuth potassium iodide TS

Formation of orangish red color

Bitonio, Marky Donelly Y.

Ph Ch 128 Lab 2nd semester 2014-2015

Notes