TANNINS

Definition of Tannins
(Cantoria, 1990)
Tannins are amorphous, polyhydroxy phenolic
compounds with molecular weights in the
range of from about 1,000 to 5,000 which
possess an astringent taste and the ability to
combine with hide to form leather.

TANNIN CELL
IN

Characteristics of Tannins
Widely distributed in plants and many are
glycosides ex. Glucogallin
Occur in solution in cell sap
Usually found in great quantities
in dead or dying cells
Exert inhibitory effect on enzymes by protein
precipitation, thus becoming a protectant for
barks and heartwoods.

GALLOTANNIN or Tannic Acid usually occurs in

the bark and fruit of a large number of plants,
such as:

1. dried beans of Coffea arabica L.

(Rubiaceae)-Arabica Coffee,
Arabian Coffee, Abyssinian Coffee

2. fresh forage (fodder) of

Equisetium arrense L. (Equisetaceae)
3. Roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (Fabaceae)
-Common Licorice, Licorice Root,
Spanish Licorice Root
4. juice of the plant of Rhamnus
purshianus DC. (Rhamnaceae)Cascara Sagrada, Cascara
buckthorn
5. flowers and plants of Verbena officinalis L.
(Verbenaceae)-Vervain, Verbena.

GALLOTANNIN or Tannic Acid

Identification Tests
1. Tannic acid, when heated to 210-215C, gets
decomposed to yield pyrogallol and CO2. The
evolution of CO2 may be confirmed when it turns
freshly prepared lime-water milky.
Tannic Acid heated at 210215C Pyrogallol + CO2

2. It instantly gives rise to insoluble precipitates with

albumin, starch, gelatin and a host of alkaloidal and
metallic salts.
3. It readily forms a bluish-black color or precipitate
with ferric salts e.g., FeCl3.

GALLOTANNIN or Tannic Acid

Uses
1. Tannic acid with ferric salts are invariably used in the
manufacture of inks.
2. It is used for tanning i.e., making leather from hides of
cow, goat, sheep and buffalo skin.
3. It is employed as a pharmaceutical aid due to its
astringent and antiseptic actions.
4. It is used as a mordant in dyeing.
5. It is invariably employed to clarify beer and wine.
6. It is employed as a coagulant in the manufacture of
rubber.
7. It is used in the large scale production of gallic acid and
pyrogallol.
8. It is employed as a reagent in analytical chemistry.

ELLAGITANNINS
They may be derived by the oxidative
coupling of two molecules of gallic acid
which are esterified to glucose or
probably by the condensation of
hydroaromatic precursors.

COMPLEX TANNINS
This has been applied by Okuda to a
newly-discovered group of tannins
which are biosynthesized from both a
hydrolyzable tannin (mostly C-glucoside
ellagitannin) and a condensed tannin.
The union through a C-C bond
between the C1 of the glucose unit of
the ellagitannin and the C8 or C6 of the
flavan-3-ol derivative.

Main Classes of Tannins

Main Classes of Tannins

HYDROLYZABLE TANNINS (also referred to as
pyrogallotannins)
1. When treated with acids or enzymes, they yield
phenolic acids, such as gallic and ellagic acids, and
carbohydrates usually glucose.
2. Their solution turn bluish black with FeCl3 TS
3. On dry distillation, gallic acid and similar
components are converted into pyrogallol.

Main Classes of Tannins

CONDENSED TANNINS (PHLOBATANNINS,
FLAVOLANS OR CATECHOL TANNINS)
1. They are more resistant when treated with acids
or enzymes as compared to hydrolyzable tannins.
They are decomposed to red insoluble compounds
known as phlobaphenes or tanners red.
2. Their solution turn greenish black with FeCl3 TS
3. On dry distillation, gallic acid and similar
components are converted into catechol.

Main Classes of Tannins

PSEUDOTANNINS are compounds of lower molecular
weights than true tannins and they do not respond
to the goldbeaters skin test.
Examples:
Depsides formed by ether linkages between two or
more molecules of phenolic acids (ex. m-gallic acid
in galls , chlorogenic acid in coffee)
Derivatives of flavan or phenyl-2-benzodihydropyran
(ex. Catechins or catechols in gambir and kremeria)

Tannin Formation

Tannin Formation
Polygalloylgiucose is the parent compound of many, if
not all, of the hydrolyzable tannins.
Catechins and flava-3,4-diols appear to be the
intermediate In the biosynthesis of condensed tannins

Useful Tests for Tannins

1. Goldbeaters skin test. a brown or black color on the skin
denotes the presence of tannins
Golbeaters skin is a membrane prepared from the intestine of
the ox and behaves similarly to an untanned hide.

2. Gelatin test. Gallic acid and other pseudotannins

precipitate gelatin if the solutions are sufficiently
concentrated.
3. Phenazone test. All tannins are precipitated, the precipitate
being bulky and often colored.
4. Test for Catechin. The phlorogloucinol produced turns the
wood pink or red.
5.Test for chlorogenic acid. Development of a green color.

TANNIN APPLICATIONS
Has the property of precipitating proteins,thus
act therapeutically as astringent, both on the
GIT and skin abrasions
Tanning leather
Precipitates alkaloids, thus used for their
detection and antidotal treatment of toxic
overdoses of these substances
Forms deep colored compounds with iron
salts, thus used in the manufacture of inks

PART USED
LEAF

LOCAL NAME

BOTANICALORIGIN

Hamamelis

Hamamelis virginiana
Fam. Hamamelidaceae

Bayabas

Psidium guajava L.
Fam. Myrtaceae

Dried aqueous extract

Gambir

Uncaria gambir (Fam. Rubiaceae)

Excrecence

Nutgall

Formed on young twigs of Qurcus

infectoria (Fam. Fagaceae) by the gall
wasp, Adleria gallaetinctoriae

Bark

Duhat

Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels

Fam. Myrtaceae

Kamachile

Pithecolobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth.

Fam. Fabaceae