Plants compounds

Here are some important plant compounds and their medical application.

Alkaloids
Bitter compound
Essential oil
Flavonoids
Glycosides
Tannins
Terpenoids

Back to the Home-page

Alkaloids are found in 20% until 30% of the dishes plant and come thus freely general for. Alkaloids are nitrogen containing basic connections, which in plant mostly at organic acids bound prevent. The in the animal organism in the adrenal glands occurring epinephrine (synthetic suprarenin) can as an alkaloid like considered become.
For plant eaters alkaloids are poisonous compounds. The plant makes to go these compounds often the attack of plant eaters against. Alkaloids form an important cause of death of cattle that grazes in nature where plant occur like lupines, Delphinium and cleaning herb. Domesticated animals are, subjected plant in contrast till their wild congeners, no longer at the natural selection poisonous to avoid.
The most alkaloids are in sufficient quantities poisonous to the man. Some alkaloids as atropine and strychnine are classic poisons. In lower concentrations, a number of alkaloids have a pharmacological effect, as morphine, ephedrine and atropine. Other alkaloids like nicotine, enjoy acquaintance as cheerful compounds.
On the cell level, alkaloids can commit in animals at receptors of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are compounds that see to for the transfer of nerve stimulus between cells of the nervous system. This alkaloids influence thus also the transfer of nerve stimulus in the brains. Other alkaloids grab at on transport over the cell membrane, the protein synthesis or on particular enzymes.
The first plant alkaloid morphine from Opium became discovered in 1803 through the pharmacist F. W. SertUrner and with that put the foundation for the alkaloid chemistry. Sleepiness come in the plants next to a main alkaloid different side alkaloids for, by which the main alkaloid has not however only the function of all alkaloids together. The most alkaloids have a strong effect on the nervous system, work soothing, against cramps, partly anaesthetising, sometimes promoting on the blood circulation (Mistletoe) or bleeding stopping (Ergot). Other important alkaloid plants are: Opium poppy, Belladonna, Stinking nightshade.

Morphine

Bitter compounds thank their name at the strong bitter taste. They form no chemically homogeneous group and be part partly in the group of the glycosides, partly also of the terpenoids (see ethereal oils). In contrast with the also bitter tasting alkaloids are she nitrogen going out connections. Through the strengthen appetite enhancing effect and the with that paired going improvement of the digestion can the bitter compound an indirect restorative effect bring on. Typical bitter compound plants are: Gentian, Centaurium, buckbean, Blessed Thistle.

Other names for essential oil are ethereal oil or volatile oil.
Plants with a content of ethereal oil fall us especially on through their smell. They consist for a large part of terpenoid (mono- and sesquiterpenoids).
The content of plants at ethereal oil is very dependent on growth place and harvest time. By the medical application becomes of the local stimulus effect use made that self works out in better blood moving up. Besides comes by much ethereal oils a function against inflammation (Chamomile) or a cramp stopping and the separation of the airways promoting (Fennel and Anise). Other important medical herbs with ethereal oils are: Spruce, juniper Berry, Sage, Mugwort, Arnica, Thyme, Peppermint and numerous members of the carrot family.

Flavonoids form a large family of vegetable compounds. She had to colour in vegetables, fruit and flowers the large variation in, of yellow till red and dark purple. These round insects (for the pollination) or plant eaters (for the spread of the seeds) announce colour to pull.
Flavons (Latin flavus = yellow) have their name to thank at plant compound that uses became for the yellow paints of wool and cotton. They are indicated also as a bioflavonoids and former as a vitamin P. Until now there are more than 4000 kinds of flavonoids described. They can become distinguish on the basis of their chemical structure in: Flavons, Flavonols, Catechins, Isoflavons, Flavonons and Anthocyans.
Want more knowledge about Flavonoids? click here.

There are many glycosides in the planting and animal world. Chemically they have not been considered a connection of a sugar (for instance glucose) and a sugar (for instance alcohol or phenol). For healing methods important glycosides are: arbutine in the leaves of Bearberries, salicine in willow bark, anthraglucosids in Rhubarb and refuse tree. Also the anthocyans as red and blue dyes of flowers and berries are glycosides. Are the flavonglucosids closely related with these, raise they partly the blood pressure and work clear urine releasing (sled thorn, bush heath, pigs grass, Linden). Extremely important for the medicine are the digitaloid glucosides with their clear heart activity. Their structure comes strongly to the same thing with the sterins (cholesterine, adrenal gland hormones, family hormones, vitamin D). The most important plants in this group are: Finger hat herb, Lily of valleys, Adonis and Christmas rose. Again other important glucosids are the saponins (triterpenoids). The name saponins comes to foam from their quality in watery solution strongly (Sapo is in the Latin soap). Medically mainly their mucus stimulating effect becomes utilize. In the region of windpipe and bronchi, this comes till effect through the coughing up of mucus and on the kidneys through urine releasing function. Important native saponin plants name be: Horse-chestnuts, soapwort, Primula.

Tannins is a collective name for plant compound that (through their flocculating effect on proteins) the animal skins in more sorrow can change. Also medically becomes by these astringent effect use made, for example as a gargle drink by mouth and gums inflammations and internally against diarrhoea. Tannins are also inflammations brake, antiseptic and blood set pen. Plants with tannin effect are: Oak, Bil berries, Agrimony, and Walnut.

The groups of the terpenoids is the grand group plant compound, are meanwhile 36,000 different structures known there. Despite the large differences in their structure, all terpenoids are originating from the molecule isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP), that from exists of five carbon atoms. Terpenoids are classified on the basis of the number of carbon atoms as:
Hemiterpenoids (five carbon atoms, C5), monoterpenoids (C10), sesquiterpenoids (C15), diterpenoids (C20), triterpenoids (C30), tetraterpenoids (C40) and polyterpenoids (more large than C40).
Rubber is an example of a polyterpenoid (larger than C40). Carotenoids are part of the group of the tetraterpenoids (for example: B-carotene from carrot, and lycopene, the red dye in tomatoes). In the group of the triterpenoids (C30) belong the steroids (as for example ergosterol).
The diterpenoids (C20) are also known as the gibberelinic acids, of this there are more than 100 known. The gibberelinic acids function as growth regulators (plant hormones) that under others the stem growth, regulate seed maturation and the blossoming.
Mono- and sesqueterpenoids we also find in the ethereal oil of a plant. These compounds fall on through their smell. They are to find in various parts of a plant. Mono- and sesquiterpenoids have often a biological function. An example of the function of mono- and sequiterpenoids is that heat evaporates these compounds, through which they form a protective haze around the plant that keeps harmful insects, bacteria and moulds on a distance. But these volatile compounds can also serve to attract favourable insects for instance for the pollination. Another example of a function is that a plant after it is attacked by an insect a number of quick compounds will make. A natural enemy of the insect "smells" these compounds and goes to the plant this take out this insect. In this example, this terpenoids functions as a kind "Call for help!" compound. The function of this terpenoids can differ rather per specific mono- or sequiterpenoid.

Back to the top of this document

Sources