Cell inclusions found in plant cells include vacuoles, ergastic substances, and calcium oxalates. Vacuoles are membrane-bound structures that store various substances like pigments, secondary products, and reserve foods. Ergastic substances are non-living inclusions that include reserve foods like carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, as well as secretory products and excretory products. Calcium oxalate crystals exist in different forms and assist in plant drug identification.

1. C. Denilah Pauline
II Pharm D
Arulmigu kalasalingam college of Pharmacy,
Krishnankoil, Tamilnadu

2. Cell inclusions refer to the non living components
found in the cytoplasm. These include vacuoles,
ergastic substances and calcium oxalates.

3. Vacuoles are single membrane, fluid filled ,sac like structures that
occupy a large percent of the total volume of a plant cell.
The vacuole membrane is called tonoplast.
The fluid within the vacuole is called cell sap.
Functions:
1. Tonoplast allows the entry of water, ions,and other materials
into the vacuole by osmosis.
2. The dissolved anthocyanin pigments in the vacuole are
responsible for the colour of flowers, fruits, buds and leaves.
3. Some secondary products and other waste by products such as
calcium oxalate crystals, alkaloids and tannins stored in the
vacuoles provide protection from herbivores.
4. Reserve food (like sucrose and mineral salts) stored in the
vacuole can be used by the cytoplasm when required.

4. Ergastic substances of plants include all those non living cytoplasmic
inclusions which are basically products of plant metabolism.
There are 3 types.
Ergastic substances of plants
Reserve food Secretory products Excretory products
-carbohydrates -colouring matter -alkaloids
-proteins -enzymes -glycosides
-fats -nectar -tannins
-resins
-latex
-volatile oils
-mineral crystals

5. Reserve food
Reserve food refers to the excess food that is stored in an insoluble
form for further use. when the need arises, these insoluble food
reserves are subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis.
Carbohydrates:
Carbohydrates – fiber, starches and sugars – are essential food
nutrients that body turns into glucose to give the energy to function.
Both water soluble and water insoluble carbohydrates are utilized as
reserve food.
Eg: Water soluble sugars include glucose,fructose and sucrose.
Water insoluble carbohydrates i.e,polysaccharides.
Some examples includes starch, inulin, cellulose, mucilage etc.
Mucilage

6. Proteins:
These are nitrogenous compounds which may or may not exhibit
water solubility. when acted upon by proteolytic enzymes, they
degrade to yield amino acids.
They are found as an aleurone layer when they exist in an
amorphous form (eg: maize).
They are found as an aleurone grains when they exist in a
crystalline form (eg: castor seeds).
Fats and oils:
Both fats and oils are composed of fatty acids and glycerol,but differ in
their taste. Fats are solid while oils exist as liquids at room
temperature.
Eg: sesame,castor,peanut etc.., are rich in fats.

7. Secretory products
Secretory products are specially secreted by the plants and they serve
a specific function.
Colouring substances:
These include photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll, anthocyanins,
xanthophylls, etc.
These substances function to impart colour to the plants and leaves
which helps to attract insects which in turn help in pollination and seed
dispersal.
Enzymes:
Enzymes are water soluble, nitrogen containing compounds that catalyze
the hydrolysis of reserve foods such as carbohydrates and proteins.
Nectar:
Nectar is a sweet solution secreted by certain specialized glands in
numerous flowers. It helps to attract insects which help in pollination.

8. Excretory products
Alkaloids:
Alkaloids are basic, organic, heterocyclic, nitrogenous
compounds of plant origin.
They occur in plants both in free form and also as salts of organic
acids(like citric acid).
Alkaloidal salts are soluble in aqueous and organic media.
Eg:quinine ,morphine, caffeine etc.,
Glycosides:
Glycosides are organic compounds which yield glycone(sugar
moiety) and aglycone(non sugar moiety)on acidic or enzymatic
hydrolysis.
Glycone and aglycone are joined together by a glucosidal linkage.
These are colourless, crystalline compounds soluble in water and alcohol,
but insoluble in organic solvents.
Eg: senna,liquorice etc.
Tannins:
These are secondary metabolites,which are deposited in the dead
tissues of mature plants(like outer cortex).
These are non-crystalline,non-nitrogenous.
Tannins are found in arjuna,myrobalan etc.

9. Resins:
Resins are excretory products released from resin ducts.
They may be present in solid or semi solid form and are
always insoluble in water.
Gums and Mucilages:
Mucilages are generally normal products of metabolism
formed within the cell.
Gums are pathological product formed upon injury of the
plant or due to unfavourable conditions.
Volatile oils:
These are odourous,volatile,vapourizable principles of
plant and animal origin.
Eg: ginger, eucalyptus, lemon etc.

10. 3. Calcium oxalate crystals:
Calcium oxalate crystals are found in certain
cells. These water insoluble substances can be
seen in various parts of the plant like root, stem,
fruits, leaves etc. Different types of calcium
oxalate crystals assist in the identification of crude
drugs and in the detection of adulterants
especially in powdered drug.

11. The various types of calcium oxalate crystals are,
a)Prisms:
These are simple and regular prism- shaped crystals.
Eg:quassia,senna etc.
b)Single acicular crystals:
These are long and pointed crystals of calcium oxalate which
occur either singly or in bundles.
Eg:cinnamon,squil etc.

12. c)Rhombic crystals:
These are diamond shaped crystals of unequal length
which consists of three axes that are perpendicular to each
other.
Eg:kurchi,mimosa etc.
d)Rosettes:
These are aggregates of calcium oxalate crystals arranged
in a spherical manner.
Eg:senna,cascara etc.

13. e)Sandy crystals:
These are small tetrahedral crystqals of calcium oxalate
found in clusters.
Eg: cinchona,belladonna etc.

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