what is phytochemistry, primary and secondary metabolites, importance of phytochemicals, source

1. PHYTOCHEMICAL
TECHNIQUES
Dr. Amit Kumar
Digitalis

2. Lecture 1
 Introduction to phytochemistry
 Modern history
 Phytochemicals
 Importance of Phytochemicals
 Classification of Phytochemicals
 Sources

3. Phytochemistry
 Phytochemistry is the study of the chemicals produced
by plants, particularly the secondary metabolites,
synthesized as a measure for self-defense against
insects, pests, pathogens, herbivores, ultraviolet
exposure and environmental hazards.
 Phytochemistry is the study of chemicals produced by
plants, particularly the secondary metabolites.

4. Modern History
 Quinine marked the first successful use of chemical compounds to treat
infectious disease during 17th century (David and Jacoby, 2005)
 Quinine source, that is, the bark of the Cinchona
 First isolated alkaloid was Morphine, (Friedrich Wilhelm during 18th
century)
 Since then (within the last 300 years), many other compounds have been
successfully isolated and characterized such as digitalis (1785), picrotoxin
(1812–1884), curare (1856–1958), and salicin (1860–1877)

6. PHYTOCHEMICAL
 The medicinal plants are useful for
healing as well as for curing of human
diseases because of the presence of
Phytochemical constituents
 Phytochemicals are biologically active,
naturally occurring chemical
compounds found in plants, which
provide health benefits for humans
further than those attributed to
macronutrients and micronutrients
(Hasler and Blumberg,1999)

7.  These phytochemicals are generally secondary
compounds have terpenoid, alkaloids and
phenolic compounds
 Terpenoids exhibit various important
pharmacological activities i.e., anti-
inflammatory, anticancer, anti-malarial,
inhibition of cholesterol synthesis, anti-viral
and anti-bacterial activities

8.  The World Health Organization (WHO)
estimates that 80 % of the people of
developing countries rely on traditional
medicines, mostly plant derived drugs,
for their primary health needs.

9. Importance of
Phytochemicals
 Impact on the healthcare system in positive ways such
as treating cancer and harmful diseases
 High concentrations of Phytochemicals, which may
protect against free radical damage, accumulate in
fruits and vegetables
 vitamins A, C, E, and Phenolic compounds such as
flavonoids, tannins, and lignin, found in plants, all act
as antioxidants

10.  Beta carotene, ascorbic acid, and many
phenolics play dynamic roles in delaying aging,
reducing inflammation, and preventing certain
cancers
 Phytochemicals are not essential nutrients and
are not required by the human body for
sustaining life, but have important properties
to prevent or to fight some common diseases..

11. Classification of
Phytochemicals
 There are ten thousands of phytochemicals, hence not
an easy task to classify
 A simple classification system divided phytochemicals
into three chemically distinct groups.
 They are the phenolics, terpenes, N, and S containing
compounds

12. Classification of Common
Phytochemicals
Major classes Subclasses Representatives
Phenolics Polyphenols Flavonoids, and tannins
Aromatic acid Phenolic acids (e.g., gallic acid, tannic acid,
vanillin, ellagic acid), hydroxycinnamic acids
(e.g., coumarin)
Terpenes Monoterpenes Geraniol, limonene, pyrethroids, myrcene
Diterpenes gibberellins
Triterpenes Azadirachtin
N
(organonitrides
)
Alkaloids Nicotine, morphine, caffeine, theobromine,
theophylline
S
(organosulfides
)
Allicin, alliin,
piperine

13. sources
 Phytochemicals are found in fruits, vegetables, whole
grains, spices, legumes, herbs, shrubs, and trees
 They get accumulated in plant parts at different
concentrations such as in the leaves, fruit, bark, stem,
roots, seeds, and flowers

14. Thanks