PESIGAN, LEA ELLANA E.

March 31,
2017

3E-PHARMACY

ASSIGNMENT 01

A. Definition of Tannin

Tannins are complex chemical substances derived from phenolic acids (sometimes
called tannic acid). They are classified as phenolic compounds, which are found in
many species of plants. Tannin was first applied by Seguin in 1796 to denote
substances present in plant extracts which were able to combine with protein of
animal hides, prevent their putrefaction and convert them into leather.

Tannin is a substance which is detected qualitatively by a tanning test (the

goldbeater's skin test) and is determined quantitatively by its adsorption on
standard hide powder. It excludes simpler phenolic substances, often present with
tannins, such as gallic acid, catechins and chlorogenic acid, although they may
under certain conditions give precipitates with gelatin and be partly retained by
hide powder.

B. Classification of Tannin: Hydrolyzable, Complex, and Pseudotannin

HYDROLYZABLE TANNINS

They are molecules with a polyol (generally D-glucose) as a central core. The
hydroxyl groups of these carbohydrates are partially or totally esterified with
phenolic groups like gallic acid (gallotannins) or ellagic acid ( ellagitannins). They
are usually present in low amounts in plants.

It maybe hydrolyzed by acids or enzymes such as tannase. From several molecules

of phenolic acids such as gallic and hexahydroxdiphenic acids which are united by
ester linkages to a central glucose molecule they are formed. A simple tannin is one
derived from a species of sumac (Rhus). Like gallic acid their solutions turn blue
with iron salts. They were formerly known as pyrogallol tannins.

Two principles type are galitannins and ellagitannins which are composed of gallic
acid and hexahydro-diphenic acid units. Ellagic acid arises by lactonization of
hexahydroxydiphenic acid druing hydrolysis of tannins. Ellagitannins have been
elucidated geraniin and tellimagrandins 1 and 2.

Gallitanins: rhubarb, cloves, redrose petals. Ellagitannins: pomegranate rind,

pomegranate bark, myrobalans, eucalyptus leaves.
 COMPLEX TANNINS

The term has been applied to a newly-discovered group of tannins which are
biosynthesized from both a hydrolyzable tannin and a condensed tannin. The union
occurs through a C-C bonf between C-1 of the glucose unit of the ellagitannin and C-
8 or C-6 pf the flavan-3-ol derivative. The monomers are also involved in oligomer
formation. They have not great relevance to mainstream pharmacognosy:
monomers have been isolated form the Combretaceae, Fagaceae and Theaceae.

PSEUDOTANNINS

They are compounds of lower molecular weight tannins than true tannins and they
do not respond to the goldbeater's skin test. Some of the examples are Gallic acid:
rhubarb and most materials which contain gallitannins, Catechins: catechu, acacia
cutch, many Australian kinos, cocoa, guarana and many other drugs containing
condensed tannins, Chlorogenic acid: coffee abd nux vomica and last would be
Ipecacuanhic acid: ipecacuanha.

Tannins are of wide occurence in plants and are usually found in greatest quantity in
dead or dying cells. They exert an inhibitory effect on many enzymes due to protein
precipitation hence they may contribute a protective function in barks and
heartwoods. Commercial tannins used in a leather industry and pharmaceutical
tannins are prepared from oak galls and yields glucose and gallic acid on hydrolysis.
Some plants contain tannin in addition to the principal therapeutic constituents.

C. Chemical Tests for Tannin

Tannins are soluble in water, dilute alkalis, alcohol, glycerol and acetone, but
generally sparingly soluble in other organic solvents.

Test Description Method Positive Result

Soak a small piece of

Goldbeaters Goldbeaters skin goldbeaters skin in
skin test is a membrane 2% HCl; rinse with
prepared from the A brown or black
distilled water and
intestine of the ox color on the skin
place the solution to
and behaves be tested for 5min.
similarly to a Wash with distilled
untanned hide. water and transfer to
a 1% solution of
ferrous sulphate.
A white buff
Gelantin test coloured
Addition of solutions precipitate is
of tannins (about 0.5- formed.
 1%) precipitate a 1% Gallic acid and
solution of gelatin other
containing 10% pseudotannins
sodium chloride in an also precipitate
extract. gelatin if the
solutions are
sufficiently
concentrated.
Phenazone To about 5ml of an All tannins are
test aqueous extract of precipitated, being
the drug add 2% bulky often
solution of colored.
phenazone.
Test for Catechins on Dip a matchstick in The phloroglucinol
catechin heating with acids the plant extract, dry, produced turns in
form moisten with wood pink or red.
phloroglucinol and concentrated HCl and
they can, warm near a flame.
therefore, be
detected by a
modification of the
well-known test for
lignin.
Test for An extract of Green colour is
chlorogenic chlorogenic acid formed on
containing drug is exposure to air.
treated with aqueous
ammonia.

In practice, these tests have to some extent been superseded by the use of
TLC, particular for the idetification of crude drugs.

D. Some plant sources of tannins

Tannins are found commonly in the bark of trees, wood, leaves, buds, stems, fruits,
seeds, roots, and plant galls. They are located mainly in the vacuoles or surface
wax of the plants. In these sites they do not interfere with plant metabolism. Only
after cell breakdown and death can they act and have metabolic effects.

Common Scientific Family Name Parts CHEMICAL

Name Name Used NAME AND
PHARMACOLO
STRUCTURE
GIC OR
OF
RESPONSE
COMPOUND/S
PRESENT
 Oak Quercus Astringent,
robur styptic
Sessile/ Quercus phlobatannins,
Durmast petraea Bark/ ellagitannins
oak Liebl. Young and gallic acid
Downy oak Quercus Fagaceae branch
pubescens es
Willd.
White oak Quercus
alba L.
Turkish Quercus branch Galotannic acid Astringent
galls infectoria es
Chinese
and Rhus Petiole
Anacardiaceae
Japanese chinensis of the
galls leaves
Hungarian Quercus
galls robur
Hamamelis Hamamelis Hamamelidacee Leaf/ Astringent
leaf Virginia L. ae bark
Potentilla proanthocyanid Astringent, for
Silverweed
anserine Rosaceae ins gargles and
Dried
Creeping Potentilla inflamed
rhizom
cinquefoil reptans mucous
e
Common Potentilla Rosaceae membranes
tormentil erecta
Leaves, 1-3% For mild
flowers, oligomeric cardiac tonic
Crataegus
false procyanidins
fruits
Hawthorn
Crataegus
monogyna Dried
Crataegus fruits
laevigata
Agrimony Agrimonia 2% tannins Mild astringent,
eupatoria (pyrogallol) against
inflammation of
leaf
the throat and
for
gastroenteritis
Alchemilla Alchemilla 6% tannins Astringent
xanthochlor Flower, (pyrogallol) against
a aerial bleeding and
parts diarrhoea

Rhatany Krameria Krameriaceae Dried Krameria- Astringent

 triandra tannic acid,
proanthocyanid
root
in, flabin-3-ol
sttructure
Pomegranat Punia 28% tannins Antioxidant
Punicaceae Fruit
e rind granatum (ellagitannins)
Aspidosper For asthma or
Aspidosper ma cardiac asthma
Apocynaceae Bark
ma quabracho-
blanco
20-40% tannin, Astringent,
Terminalia Dried
Myrobalan Combretaceae beta-sitosterol, cathartic
chebula fruit
anthraquinones
Catechu Uncaria Rubiaceae Leaves. 7.33% of Astringent
gambir Young catechins, 22-
twigs 50%
catechumatic
acid, catechu
red, quertcitin,
gambir-
fluorescin
Kinos Pterocarpus Laguminosae Dried phlobatannins Astringent
marsupium juice
Croton Euphorbiaceae bark Phenols, Anti-tumor,
lechleri alcohol, sterols anti-infective,
wound-healing