It's a Beautiful Topic Called ERGASTIC CELL CONTENT & METABOLITES, gives you information about metabolites, plant constituents, crystal system, crystal forms & a detail information abut primary & secondary metabolites.

1. Department of Pharmacology
Subject-Pharmacology 1
Topic - Ergastic Cell Content And
Metabolites

2. INDEX-
• Introduction – To metabolites (1° and 2°)
• Types of 2° metabolites
• Active plant constituents
• Calcium oxalate crystal
• Crystal system
• Crystal forms
• Reference

3. Primary Metabolites
• Primary Metabolites
• Chlorophyll
• AA’s
• Nucleotides
• Simple CHO’s
• Membrane Lipids
• Found throughout the Plant Kingdom
• Fx: Important roles in growth and
development
• Photosynthesis
• Respiration
• Solute transport
• Translocation
• Nutrient assimilation
• Differentiation

4. Secondary Metabolites
• Definition:
• All organic compound
• Have no direct function
in growth and
development
• Also called secondary
products or natural
products
• Differ from 1° metabolites
in that they have a restricted
distribution in the plant kingdom
• Therefore: Only perticular secondary
metabolites are found in only one
specific plant species or a toxinomically
related group of species.

5. Secondary Metabolites Fx:
• Initially thought to be functionless end products of metabolism or metabolic waste products.
• Responsible for characteristics,odour,pungencies and colours of plant. Other give plant their
medicinal,Culinary or poisonous values.
• They are synthesized to aid to producing the plant’s survival.

6. Secondary metabolite Function
• Ecological functions in plant : Protect against herbivory.
• Protect against infection by microbial pathogens.
• Attract pollinators and seed distributing animals.
• Act as agents for plant-plant compitation.

7. Evolution of 2° Metabolites
• 2° metabolites evolved through mutations in the basic metabolic pathways.
• ▶ Appearance of new compounds
➡happened to be toxic or a deterrent to herbivores and pathogens.
⚫As long as they were not toxic to the plant itself and were produced
at a low metabolic cost.
• They gave the plants containing them greater reproduction fitness than
undefended plants (Plant – Plant compitation)
• Undefended plants therefore left more descendants while the protected plants
left less.
➡ And pass there defensive traits on to the next generation

8. • The defence compounds (secondary metabolites) that increase reproductive fitness of plants by warding off fungi,
bacteria and herbivores,also make them undesirable as food by humans.
• Many NB crop plants have artifically selected for producing relatively low levels of this compounds,
which make them more susceptible to insect and disease.
• Eg. Wheat.

9. 3 main groups of 2° metabolites
• TERPENES
• PHENOLS
• N-2 CONTAINING COMPOUNDS

10. Terpenes
• Terpenes are lipids-
• Synthesized from acetyl CoA fromthe basic intermedites of glycosides.

11. Phenolic Compounds
• Phenolic compounds are aromatic substances
➡Formed via the Shikimic acid Pathway or the Malonic acid Pathway

12. Nitrogen-Containing Compounds
• Eg. Alkaloids
• Synthesized from AA’s

13. Active Plant Constituents
Gums and Mucilages
• Very complex CHO’s
• Found in excellent vulnerary,demulcent and
emollient herbs.
• Ex. Marshmallow and Plantain

14. Gums and Mucilage Fx
• Relax Gut lining
• Relax respiratory system
• Reduce irritation and inflammation(GIT, RESPIRATORY, US)
• MO: Soak up large amount of water
• ➡Sticky jelly: Dry irrritated skin, Inflamed/Painfull tissues
• Some stimulated immune system.
ex. Acemannan (Aloevera)

15. Plant Alcohols
• Occurs in plants in various forms.
• Constituent of volatile oils and sterols
• ➡Attar of rose
• ➡Menthol in pepperment
• ➡Waxes(Beeswax)
• ➡Cutins

16. Phenols
• Phenol=Basic building blocks for many plant constituents.
• Simple/Complex in nature.
• Fx. Anti-inflammatory
Anti-septic
• Eg. Salicylic acid (Willow)
• Eugenol (clove)
• Thymol (Thyme)

17. Volatile Oil Function
• Anti-septic
(Garlic / Thyme oil)
• Stimulate tissue
➡Irritation Eg. Mustard
➡Numbing Eg. Camphor oil
• Aid digestion
• CNS action
• Insect repellent
• Anti-inflammatory
• Anti-allergenic

18. Proanthrocyanins
• Closely related to tannins and flavonoids
• Phenols
• Fx: Powerfull Antioxidants
• Protect circulation from damage: Especially circulation of heart,
hands,feets and eyes.
• Ex. Crataegus Spp.

19. Tannins
• Fx: Give herbs their astringent and hEamostypic action.
• Acts on proteun and forms a protective layer on the
skin and mucous membranes.
➡ Bind tissues of the gut.
➡ Reduce diarrhoea and internal bleeding
➡ Externally: Sealing wounds and reducing inflammation
➡ Heal infections of the eye,mouth,vagina,cervix and rectum.

20. Coumarins
• (Smell of cut grass)
• Limited effects on the body
• De-coumarol,(metabolite)
➡Powerful anti-clotting agent.
• Functions:
➡ Allopathic:Basis of warfarin (Thrombosis in small doses)
Horse chestnut
➡Rat poison in small doses.
➡ Visnaga-Powerful smooth muscle relaxant

21. Anthraquinones
• Plants containing anthraquinones = effective purgatives.
• (and good natural dyes)
• Senna and Aloe.
• Also make stool more liquid (Constipation)
• Fx: gently stimulate colon 8-12 hrs after ingestion
(stimulate peristalsis)
• Can only Fx when natural bile is present.
• Tend to cause colonic pain(over-stimulate colon wall)

22. Glycosides
• Flavonoids
• Saponins
• Phenolic Glycosides
• Cardiac Glycosides
• Cyanogenic Glycosides

23. Flavonoids
• One of the most common group of plant constituents.
• Polyphenols
• Wide range of actions
• Anti-spasmoidic
• Anti-oxidant
• Diuretic
• Circulatory Stimulants
• Cardiac stimulants
• Anti-viral
• Hepatic

24. Saponins
• Pharmaceuticals Chemists = synthesis of cortisono
(anti-inflammatory) and sex hormone
• Saponins in herbs do not act in same way = body can use them as
building blocks to form appropriate chemicals.
• Fx:
Anti-inflammatory
Expectorant
Aid nutrient absorption

25. Cardiac Glycosides
• Discovered from Foxglove(1785)= recognised to support a failing heart
• Many flowering plants contain cardiac glycosides
• Fx: increase heart efficiency
• Steady tachycardia
• NO CARDIAC STRAIN
• Strong diuretic

26. Cyanogenic Glycosides
• Based on cyanide (toxic)
• Small Doses
Sedative
Relaxant effect on heart and muscle
• Wild cherry bark: suppress and soothe dry, irritating coughs.
• Fruit kernels (apricot)

27. Alkaloids
• The most potent group of plant constituents
• Effect: body and mind
• Some: effect on lungs, liver, nerves, GIT
• Fx in plant: source of excessive N2.(makes them p’cologically acive).
• Divided into 13 goups based on their chemical structure( no general effects)
• Ex. Atropine (Atropa belladonna)= reduce spams, relive pain and dry up
bodily secritions

28. Glucosilinates
• Found exclusively in Brasssica Family (mustard and cabbage)
• Instant blistering and inflammatory effect on the skin
• Applied to painful areas to increase blood flow
• Helps remove excessive waste probucts
• Eating: Produce a strong pungent taste

29. Vitamins
• Found in many medicinal plants
Lemon peel: vitamin C
Carrot: Vitamin A
Brewers Yeast: Vitamin B
Nasturim/watercress: Vitamin E

30. Minerals
• Plants draw minerals from the soil and convert them into a form which is
easily absorbed and used by the body.
• Kelp: 12
• Dandelion: K
• Horsetail: Silica
• Nettle: Fe and Ca
• Brewers Yeast: Chromium

31. CALCIUM OXALATE CRYSTALS

32. Calcium Oxalate
• Numerous crystals occur in plants
• Ca-oxalate is one of the most common
• Like trichomes and Stomata, it also has diagnostic value
• X polymorphs are characteristics in X plant spp,

33. Crystal Systems
• In plants- 2 crystal systems exist
• All crystal polymorphs belong to one of these systems.
• Systems
Tetragonal System
Monoclinic System
• Systema differ
in the amount of water they attain
OD

34. Tetragonal Crystal System
• Composition: CaC2O4.3H2O
• Arises from supersaturation of the cell sap with calcium oxalate
• Includes
Prisms
Clusters crystals(rosette aggregates)
microsphenoids

35. Monoclinic Crystal System
• Chemical composition: CaC2O4.H2O
• Form in the presence of excess oxalic acid
• Crystal forms include
Some prisms
Needle-like crystals (raphides)
Sphaero-crystals

36. Crystal Function
• Uncertain
• More abundant in plants growing in arid regions.
• Ca: causes epithelial cells to swell
• Deter herbivory?

37. Crystal Forms
• Prisms
• Cluster Crystals
• Microsphenoids
• Raphides
• Sheaerp-crystals

38. Prisms – Elletaria Cardamomum
• Found in
Cardamom
small single prisms
Starch masses in parenchyma

39. Prisms- Hyosciamus niger
• Black henbane
Single prisms
some have a crystalline outgrowth(plug)
• Twin prisms
In crystal layer of spongy mesophyll cells (direct below
pallsade tissyes)

40. Prisms- Cassia senna
Senna
• Single prisms
• Occurs in parenchy,ma cells
• Surrounds bundles of pericyclic fibres
• Forms a crystal sheath

41. Prisms – Glycyrrhiza glabra
Found in Liquorice
• Single prisms
• Occurs in parenchyma tissue
• Surrounds xylem and phloem
• Forms an incomplete crystal sheath

42. Prisms- Rhamnus purshianus
Cascara senega
• Crystal sheaths
• Similar to liquorice
• Occurs with the phhloem fibers
• Complete crystal sheaths

43. Micro-sphenoids
Atropa belladonna
• Aggregates occurs in a crystal layer
• Below palisade tissues
• When a single cell contains an aggregate of microsphenoids
= idioblast

44. Raphides
Occurs
• Singly
Ex. Ipecavanha
• In bundles
Ex. Squill

45. Diagnostic Value Of Calcium Oxalate Crystals
• Absence of crystals
• Different form
• Different size
= all used to identify adulterants or allied spesies from medicinal herbs.

46. Diagnostic Value of Calcium Oxalate Crystals
• Eg. Atropa belladonno:
Leaves have micro-sphenoids
• Phytolacca leaves:
have raphides

47. Diagnostic Value of Calcium Oxalate Crystals
3 Solanaceous Herbs
• Atropa belladonna
Microspenoids
• Datura stramonium
Cluster crystals
• Hyoscyamus nigra
Prisms

48. LESSON TAKE-AWAY
• Definition and types/effects of adulteration.
• Difference between 1 and 2 metabolites.
• Eg.’s And Functions of metabolites
• Types of Ca-O crystal. (Eg.’s and Dx value)

49.  Reference
• http://www.powershow.com/view/3e13b9-OTYxZ/Plant_Metabolites_Ergastic_Cell_Contents_powerpoint_ppt_presentation