Tutorial 1

1. Define Phytoconstituents.
2. Distinguish primary and secondary metabolites by stating FOUR (4) differences.
3. List THREE (3) examples of primary and secondary metabolites.
4. Carbohydrates are organic compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. State the basic
empirical formula for carbohydrates.
5. Identify the THREE (3) biologically important groups of carbohydrates.
6. Describe the THREE (3) biologically important groups of carbohydrates using the number of monomers in
each group.
7. Differentiate amylose and amylopectin.
8. Polysaccharides can be categorized into two main groups. Describe BOTH the groups of polysaccharides
with examples.
9. List FIVE (5) chemical tests for carbohydrates.
10. Elaborate THREE (3) heteroglycans from plants and their uses in medicine.
1. Define Phytoconstituents.
2. Distinguish primary and secondary metabolites by stating FOUR (4) differences.
Primary metabolites
Essential to cell growth (involved
directly in respiration and
photosynthesis)
Most primary metabolites are identical
among most organisms
Primary metabolites are produced
during the growth phase of cells.
Primary metabolites are accumulated
by plant cells in large quantities
The growth phase where primary
metabolites are produced is
sometimes called ‘trophophase’
Secondary metabolites
Not essential to cell growth. They are
considered as the end products of primary
metabolites and are involved in defense
reactions
Secondary metabolites are numerous and
wide spread (not identical among organisms)
Secondary metabolites are produced during
the non- growth phase of the cells.
Secondary metabolites are accumulated by
plant cells in very small quantities
The phase during which secondary
metabolites are made is called ‘idiophase’
3. List THREE (3) examples of primary and secondary metabolites.
Examples: Proteins, Examples: alkaloids, glycosides, tannins,
carbohydrates, and lipids are the resins, phenolics, sterols, steroids, lignins etc.
main primary metabolites

4. Carbohydrates are organic compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. State the basic
empirical formula for carbohydrates.
Cx(H2O)n

5. Identify the THREE (3) biologically important groups of carbohydrates.

The biologically important carbohydrates are identified under three groups namely
monosaccharides, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides.
6. Describe the THREE (3) biologically important groups of carbohydrates using the number of
monomers in each group.
Monosaccharides are single units of carbohydrates which contain 4-5 hydroxy groups (-OH)
with carbonyl group.

The units formed by the polymerization of 2 to 10 monosaccharide units are called

oligosaccharide.

More than 10 units of monomers polymerize together to form polysaccharides.

7. Differentiate amylose and amylopectin.

Amylose (20-30%) is a water soluble, linear chain molecule with D–glucose having 1-4 linkage.
It forms blue colour with iodine.
Amylopectin (70-90%), it is insoluble in cold-water, branched chain molecule with D-glucose
having 1-4 and 1-6 linkages. It forms red to violet colour with iodine.
8. Polysaccharides can be categorized into two main groups. Describe BOTH the groups of
polysaccharides with examples.

Homoglycans (homogenous polysaccharides): formed by the condensation of larger

number of same sugar molecules, e.g. starch, cellulose, glycogen etc.

Heteroglycans (heterogeneous polysaccharides): it involves more than one kind of

monosaccharide unit. e.g. gums, mucilages and pectin.

9. List FIVE (5) chemical tests for carbohydrates.

Charring test, Iodine test, Molish test, Benedict’s test, Fehling Solution test, Seliwanoff’s
test, Barfoed’s test, etc.
10. Elaborate THREE (3) heteroglycans from plants and their uses in medicine.
Gum Acacia
Acacia is the dried gummy exudation from the stems and branches of Acacia arabica Willd. and Acacia
senegal (L.) Willd. White, pale-yellow to creamish-brown to red in colour. Major chemical constituent is
‘arabin’ which is mixture of calcium, magnesium, potassium salts of arabic acid. Other constituents
include arabinose, galactose, rhamnose and glucuronic acid.
It is used as a demulcent, emulsifying agent, binding agent for tablets, and as colloidal stabilizer.

Gum Tragacanth
The dried gummy exudation from Astragalus gummifer Labill. or other Asiatic species of Astragalus. White or
pale in colour. Major constituents are tragacanthin (water soluble): forms an instant colloidal solution with
water and bassorin (water-insoluble): swells up in water to form a gel. Used as a demulcent in throat
preparations, as an emollient in cosmetics, as a binding agent in the preparation of tablets and pills.

Guar gum
Guar gum is the ground endosperms (of the seeds) of Cyamopsis tetragonolobus (L.) Taub. It is colourless.
Principal constituent is Guaran. It is used therapeutically as a bulk laxative, as a binding and a
disintegrating agent in tablet formulations, as stabilizer in suspensions, emulsions, lotions, creams and
toothpastes.