Department of Pharmacognosy

Associate professor Maha Salama

Lecture (4)
Botany
and Medicinal Plants
cell CONTENT
Natural Metabolites
Spring Semester 2014
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PRIMARY & SECONDARY METABOLITES

Metabolites are compounds synthesized by plants for both essential

functions; growth and development (primary metabolites), and
specific functions, such as pollinator attraction or defense
(secondary metabolites).

Metabolites are organic compounds synthesized by organisms using

enzyme-mediated chemical reactions called metabolic pathways.
Primary metabolites are essential to growth and development and
are therefore present in all plants. In contrast, secondary
metabolites are variously distributed in the plant kingdom, and their
functions are specific to the plants in which they are found.

Secondary metabolites are often colored, fragrant, or flavorful

compounds, and they typically mediate the interaction of plants with
other organisms. Such interactions include those of plant-pollinator,
plant-pathogen, and plant-herbivore.
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Types of Natural Metabolites:
A) Primary metabolites:
Carbohydrates.
Amino acids (Protein).
Fats.
Function: Participate in
cellular activities & used as
precursor for the
biosynthesis of 2
metabolites.
Distribution: Distributed
universally throughout the
plant kingdom.
B)Secondary metabolites:
Represent the majority of
natural products e.g.,
alkaloids, glycosides,
tannins, volatile oils,
steroids ... etc.
Have a restricted
distribution (perhaps only
found in certain species,
genus & family ... etc.).
Function: Are not clear, may
or may not be essential.
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 The cell contents

I-Primary Plant II- Products of

Metabolites Metabolism II- Gums,
Mucilages
& pectins
i-Crystals
A-Carbohydrates III- Resins & Resin
(Starch) IV- Tannins Combination

VI- Alkaloids V- Volatile oils

B- Proteins
VII- Glycosides
VIII- Antibiotics
C- Fixed oil
IX- Aflatoxins X- Vitamins
& fats
XII- Enzymes XI-Hormones
 Food storage products
Primary Plant METABOLITES
A- Starch
As granules in all storage organs e.g. roots rhizomes and
seeds.
Source:
cereals (rice, wheat, and maize) &root vegetables (potatoes).
Constituent:
Starch is a polysaccharides of high molecular weight ( polymer
of Alpha-glucose and formed during photosynthesis) .
Detection
It gives blue color with iodine.
 Uses of starch
Adjuncts in tablet formulation: diluents, binder,
desintegrants, anti-caking agents

Food technology, paper production, textile industry,

glues, adhesives .

Dusting powder for cosmetic preparation.

As lubricant and in treatment of iodine poisoning.
As indicator for the iodine titration.
Drugs derived from starch.
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Potato starch grains

Maize starch grains

Rice Starch grains

B- Proteins
As aleurone grains (storage and source of proteins ) in
seeds.
It is composed of a large number of amino acids
united by peptide linkage.
It composed from Matrix, globoids and crystalloid
Detection It gives red color with Millons reagent.

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Aleurone grains: composed from Matrix, globoids and crystalloid
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 Endosperm (Starchy)
Aleurone

Pericarp

Oil drops

The aleurone layer of the seed

lies between the outer seed
coat and the endosperm.

Aleurone grains 10
C- Fixed oil and fats
Found in seeds

Reserve fats occur as crystalline masses or oil drops

(endosperm )

Detection Sudan III red color

uses pharmaceutically in
Soaps, liniment and plaster.
Stimulant cathartic (castor seed oil).
Solvent for IM. Injection (in steroidal drugs).
e.g. peanut, cotton seed, sesame and corn oils.
In treatment of hypercholesteremia e.g. olive oil.

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 By-Products of Metabolism
I-Crystals
A- CALCIUM OXALATE
Crystals may be reserve or waste products of cellular activity.
Calcium salt in the soil + oxalic acid (metabolism of carbohydrate)

1- Prisms 2- Rosette and cluster

Cluster: Numerous Rosette :
prisms or pyramids Crystals having a
or both grown large center
together from which
crystal radiate,
e.g. to form spherical
masses with They have a
Hyoscyamus toothed
projecting point circumference.
e.g. in aleurone
grains of
Umbelleferae.
( long prism)
e.g.in Quillaia bark
e. Rhubab rhizome
3- Needles (acicular) 4--Microcrystal or sandy
crystal
commonly occur in bundles Very small, e.g. in belladonna
(raphides) e.g. Squill leaf (microsphenoidal) and
cinchona bark (microprismatic).
 Forms of
CALCIUM
OXALATE

1- Prisms 2-Cluster
4-Needles
(acicular)
Rosette

5-Microcrystal
or sandy 3-Rosette
crystal
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 Special arrangement of Ca Ox

Crystal sheath
[Senna, Cascara]
Crystal layer
(Stramonium)

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 calcium oxalate Crystals

Raphides
e.g. Hyoscyamus
e.g. Squill

Rosette
e.g. Rhubarb in aleurone grains e.g. Quillaia
of Umbelleferae. e.g. Senna
 e.g. Squill
e.g. Belladonna
e.g. Stramonium

Rosette

in aleurone
grains of
Umbelleferae.
Atropa belladonna vein islet Datura stramonium vein islet
Idioblasts Crystal layer

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B- Calcium carbonate:

Cystolith hair of Cannabis

sativa
Identified by effervescence
with dil. HCl.

Calcium carbonate deposit

Antibiotics Aflatoxins
Synthesized Mycotoxins
by molds and fungi developed by
mouldy grains
Having bacteriostatic Cause serious
activity. reaction
They are potent
carcinogen, and
e.g. Penicillin and mutagen.
tetracycline.
e.g. Aflatoxin B1, G1
developed by
Aspergillus.

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Vitamins
- Organic compound necessary to the normal
growth and maintenance of life in animals
including human.
- Isolated from plant or animal purified and
concentrated for use as drugs e.g. (Ascorbic
acid)
Hormones Enzymes
Secreted by the Organic bio-catalysts
endocrine glands. produced by living cells.

They control the growth, They make most of the

development and chemical reactions
metabolism in various which make up life
ways. e.g . Auxins, processes e.g. Amylase,
Cytokinins. Protease, Lipase

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 Assignment on Lecture 4
1- Compare between Primary & Secondary metabolites.
2- Mention examples for 1ry metabolites. Explain two in
details.
3- Compare between crystals of calcium oxalate. Illustrate your
answer by drawing and giving examples.
4- Hormones are secreted by ..& used
in..while are involved in chemical
reactions which make up life processes.
5- Label the following:

Name:
Name:

Name: Name: