PHARMACEUTICAL BOTANY WITH TAXONOMY mcaensaya21

PHYTOSYNTHESIS
It is a process by which green plants and certain other organisms use the energy of light to
convert carbon dioxide and water into simple sugar glucose.

Where Photosynthesis Occurs?

Plant photosynthesis occurs in leaves and green stems within specialized cell structures called
chloroplasts.
Structure of Chloroplasts:
 Thylakoid
 Granum
 Stroma

How Photosynthesis works?

A. Nature of Light
- Photons
- Wavelength
B. Chlorophyll and Accessory Pigments
2 most common type of chlorophyll
1. Chlorophyll A
2. Chlorophyll B
Accessory Pigments:
1. Carotenoids
a. Carotene
b. Lycopene
c. Xanthophyll
2. Special Pigments for algae
1. Phycoerythrin – red algae
2. Phycocyanin – blue-green algae
Two Phases of Photosynthesis
1. Light Dependent Reaction
- It takes place on the surface of the thylakoid membrane in the chloroplast.
- It cannot take place in the absence of light.
2. Light Independent Reaction
Dark Reaction – other term for Light Independent reaction.
- the products in the light dependent reactions which are the ATP and NADPH are
important in this reaction to occur.
- can occur in the absence of light as long as the ATP and NADPH are provided.
COLORATION OF THE LEAVES
Pigments present in the leaf:
1. CHLOROPLASTIDS – the green plants due to the
chlorophyll found in the chloroplastids.
the chlorophylls are the most important pigments
active in the photosynthetic process.
TYPES:
a. Chlorophyll a e. Chlorophyll e h. Chlorobium chlorophyll 650
b. Chlorophyll b f. Bacteriochlorophyll a i. Chlorobium chlorophyll 660
c. Chlorophyll c g. Bacteriochlorophyll b
d. Chlorophyll d

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 PHARMACEUTICAL BOTANY WITH TAXONOMY mcaensaya21

2. CAROTENOIDS
- are lipid compounds that are distributed widely in both animals and plants and ranges in
color from yellow to purple.
- Majority are found in plant tissues which is the orange-yellow color containing alpha
carotene.
CAROTENES – the first carotenoid to be formed and isolated from carrot root. It is consist
exclusively of hydrogen carotenoids.
XANTHOPHYLLS – are more abundant in nature than carotenes. It exclusively contains oxygen
carotenoids.
LYCOPENE – red chromophyll pigment found in tomatoes
- its oxidative products are natural carotenoids

3. CHROMOPLASTIDS
- Contains the red, yellow or orange pigments called chromophyll.

4. ANTHOCYANINS
- are glycosidal pigments that are found to be dissolved in the cell sap and is responsible
for the red, blue, lavender and purple colors of flowers, leaves or other plant parts.
- If the cell sap is acidic → red color
- If the cell sap is alkaline → blue color
- Light and sudden drop of temperature promotes formation of red pigments

5. FLAVONES
- Pigments of a yellow color believed to be oxidation products of anthocyanins.
- It is present in white petals of Tsitsirika and in orange pulps
- Are produced by living cells and are called BIOFLAVONOIDS.