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Questions and Answers
What is the primary carbohydrate reserved in the subterranean organs of Compositae plants?
What is the primary carbohydrate reserved in the subterranean organs of Compositae plants?
What type of mucilage is classified primarily with D-mannose and D-galactose units?
What type of mucilage is classified primarily with D-mannose and D-galactose units?
Which reserved food material does not undergo hydrolysis by amylase enzyme?
Which reserved food material does not undergo hydrolysis by amylase enzyme?
What is the main structural component of plant cell walls?
What is the main structural component of plant cell walls?
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What color does acidic mucilage turn when treated with Ruthenium red reagent?
What color does acidic mucilage turn when treated with Ruthenium red reagent?
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What property allows gums to increase the viscosity of a solution?
What property allows gums to increase the viscosity of a solution?
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What is the primary structural unit of chitin?
What is the primary structural unit of chitin?
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What type of grains do proteins form in plants?
What type of grains do proteins form in plants?
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What happens to proteins when subjected to heat or a change in pH?
What happens to proteins when subjected to heat or a change in pH?
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In which of the following is chitin soluble?
In which of the following is chitin soluble?
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Study Notes
Medicinal Plants Lecture 8
- Lecture is about reserved food materials in plants, specifically carbohydrates, proteins, fixed oils, fats, and waxes.
- Reserved food materials are also known as primary metabolites.
- Reserved food material in plants include carbohydrates, proteins, fixed oil, fat and waxes.
Inulin
- Inulin replaces starch as the reserved carbohydrate in subterranean organs of plants in the Compositae family.
- It is composed of β-D-1,2-furanofructose.
- It can be hydrolyzed by acids into D-fructose but not by the enzyme amylase.
- Inulin is a white powder slightly soluble in cold water and does not react with iodine.
- Inulin is used in culture media as a fermentative identifying agent for certain bacteria.
Cellulose
- Cellulose is the main component of plant cell walls.
- It's a linear β-1,4 polymer of glucose containing 300-25,000 glucose residues.
- Human digestive enzymes cannot hydrolyze the β linkages of cellulose.
- Concentrated mineral acids (HCl, H2SO4, or HNO3) can hydrolyze cellulose to β-D-glucose units.
- Cellulose is used as a surgical dressing.
Mucilage
- Mucilage is a complex polysaccharide found in the cell walls of roots, rhizomes, leaves, and seed endosperm.
- It forms a viscous, colloidal solution without adhesive properties.
- There are three types of mucilage: neutral, acidic, and seaweed mucilage.
- Neutral mucilage consists mainly of D-mannose and D-galactose.
- Acidic mucilage contains uronic acid residues (mainly galacturonic acid) and other sugars like D-galactose, xylose, arabinose, and rhamnose.
- Seaweed mucilage is composed of polysaccharide sulphate esters.
- Mucilage is used as a demulcent, cathartic, antidiabetic, and for preventing colon cancer.
Pectin
- Pectin is produced during the ripening of citrus fruits.
- It dissolves in water to form a viscous colloidal solution, but without adhesive properties.
- Pectin acts as a protective agent, binding and absorbing toxins, and is used in treating intestinal disorders like diarrhea and dysentery.
- It is used in pharmacy as a stabilizer in gels and emulsions.
- It's also used to prepare jellies and as a slimming agent (e.g., Applelite tablets).
Gum
- Natural gums are polysaccharides of natural origin, increasing solution viscosity at low concentrations.
- Used in food industry as thickening, gelling, emulsifying agents, and stabilizers.
- Also used as adhesives and binding agents in other industries
- Gums form viscous colloidal solutions with adhesive properties.
- Commonly found in woody plant tissues and seed coatings.
- They are essentially protective substances produced by plants after injury or pathologically. Examples include gum acacia and gum tragacanth.
Chitin
- Chitin is a nitrogenous polysaccharide found in certain shrimps and fungi.
- It is insoluble in water and alcohol but soluble in strong mineral acids.
- Hydrolysis with strong acids yields glucosamine.
- Chitin stains a brown color with iodine-potassium iodide solution.
- It's composed of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine units linked by 1,4-β-glycosidic bonds.
Protein Content of Plants
- Plant proteins are nitrogenous organic reserves with high nutritive value.
- Proteins consist of polypeptides, dipeptides, and amino acids when hydrolyzed.
- Stored as clumps or small particles called aleurone grains throughout the living cells.
- Aleurone grains are common in oily cells rather than starchy cells.
- The simplest aleurone grains consists of a protein mass surrounded by thin membrane which includes globoid and crystalloid bodies..
- Characteristically, proteins are insoluble in organic solvents and can be precipitated or coagulated via heat, pH change, or high salt concentration.
- Proteins (microscopically) can be identified via various chemical tests; e.g. a red precipitate with Millon's reagent. Picric acid solution stains crystalloid yellow but leaves globoid unstained.
Fixed Oils, Fats, and Waxes
- Fixed oils, fats, and waxes are reserved food materials in plants and animals.
- They are esters of fatty acids with glycerol.
- They can appear as liquids (oils), semisolid (fats), or solid (wax).
- Insoluble in water or cold alcohol, but soluble in ether, chloroform, petroleum ether, and benzene.
- Hydrolyzed by aqueous alkalis, resulting in fatty acid salts (soap).
- Fixed oils are categorized by their ability to absorb and form hard films (e.g., drying oils, semi-drying oils, and non-drying oils).
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Description
Explore the crucial role of reserved food materials in plants, focusing on carbohydrates, proteins, fixed oils, fats, and waxes. Learn about inulin and cellulose, their structures, functions, and significance in plant biology. This lecture provides essential insights into primary metabolites found in plants.
