Tannins

Tannins were discovered in 1796. Tannins are

defined as, “Polyhydroxy phenolic compounds which
causes precipitation of proteins.”
The protein precipitation action of tannins in
humans is referred to as Astringent action. While,
the tannins are also used for the conversion of
animal hide into leather, and the process is referred
to as Tanning. The polyphenolic compounds may
sometimes have glycosidic linkages.
Properties of tannins:
Tannins have phenol like properties. The properties of tannins
basically depends upon the number of free phenolic groups present
in it. The properties are discussed below;
 Solution of tannins possess an acidic reaction and sharp
puckering taste.
 In alkaloidal solutions, tannins are their derivatives absorbs
oxygen.
 Tannins gives colloidal solution with water. They are soluble in
glycerol, acetone, and alkaloids. While they are sparingly soluble in
other organic solvents.
 Tannins react with glycosides and alkaloids forming insoluble
complexes.
Tannins give bluish black and greenish black color
with ferric chloride salts due to formation of
complexes.
 Tannins precipitates heavy metals i.e. Copper
(Cu), Lead (Pb), Tin (Sn).
 Tannins give deep red color when treated with
ammonia and ferri cyanide.
 With few exceptions tannins are non-crystalizable
therefore they are difficult to separate.
Identification tests for tannins:
These are the following test which are performed for
the identification of tannins;
 Phenazone test: Take 5ml of aqueous extract of
tannins, add 0.5g of sodium acid phosphate and
slightly warm it, then cool and filter it. To the filtrate
add 2% solution of phenazone, bulky and
concentrated precipitate of tannins are produced.
Catechin test: Dip a match stick in the extract to
be studied. Let it dry. After drying moist it with
concentrated HCl and slightly warm near a flame.
The phlorogucinol will be produced which would
turn the wood either pink or red

 Cholerigenic acid test: Take the extract of

cholerigenic acid when treated with ammonia and
exposed to air it gradually develops a green color.
Gelatin test: Take 1% solution of gelatin, and add
2ml extract of tannins into it, precipitation of gelatin
solution will occur.
Commercial uses of tannins:
They are commercially used as;
 They are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry due to
their astringent action.
 They are used antidote drugs for alkaloidal poisoning.
 Tannins are used in the commercial preparation of inks as
they give colored compounds on reaction e.g. it gives red color
when treated with ammonia.
 They can precipitate enzymes and thus used for tenderizing
meat.
 Excessive oral used of tannins leads to esophageal carcinoma.
(CNs distrubnace)
Types of tannins:
Tannins have the ability to precipitate alkaloids and
glycosides. Woody tissues of angiosperms contain
tannins in the center of their wood.
On the bases of molecular weight tannins are
classified into two types;
 Pseudo tannins
 True tannins
 Pseudo tannins:
Simple tannins, having molecular weight less than 1000 are known
as pseudo tannins e.g. chlorogenic acid. These tannins have the
ability to make polymers, copolymers with pectin, cellulose.

 True tannins:

Complex tannins having molecular weight ranging from 1000 –

5000 are known as true tannins.
A test is performed for the differentiation between true tannins
and pseudo tannins known as Gold beater’s skin test.
Gold Beater’s Skin test:
Gold beater’s skin is a thin transparent membrane of
the large intestine of the ox.
Skin is taken, it is soaked in 1% Hydrochloric acid
(HCl) for few minutes and then it is rinsed with
distilled water. After that, the skin is soaked into the
sample to be tested and washed with distilled water
again and then dipped in ferrous suphate solution.
Presence of true tannins will be indicated by the brown
or blackish brown color appearance on the skin.
Chemical classification of True Tannins
Chemically the true tannins are classified into
following major groups;
Hydrolysable tannins:
These tannins when treated with enzyme (tannase),
different acids and alkalies, they undergo hydrolysis
therefore, they are known a hydrolysable tannins.
 On dry distillation hydrolysable tannins gives
pyrogallol. Because of this property, formerly they
were known as Pyrogallol tannins.
All hydrolysable tannins are water soluble. They are
subdivided into;
a. Galli tannins or Gallotannins: These tannins
on hydrolysis produce Gallic acid. Gallic acid is
converted into gluco gallitannin on reaction with
glucose (a phenolic glycoside)
b. Ellagitannins: These tannins on hydrolysis yield
eallgic acid (dimeric form of gallic acid).
The uses of hydrolysable tannins are as fallows;
 Hydrolysable tannins are used as algicidal (to
inhibit algal growth).
 With few exceptions, hydrolysable tannins are
used as antibacterial.
 Hydrolysable tannins have anti-tumor effect as
they are positively against to Angiogenesis.
 These are used for wood preservation.
Condensed tannins
The other name of condensed tannins is
“Proanthocyanidins.” These are resistant to
hydrolysis therefore when they are treated with acids
they are converted into red insoluble compounds
called “Phlobaphenes.”
These are flavonoid compounds because in the
biosynthesis of condensed tannins, different
flavonoid compounds appears as an intermediate.
For example flaven-3-ol (catechin), flaven-3, 4-diol,
epicatichin, and on dry distillation condense tannins
are converted into catechols. Formerly they were
known as catechol tannins. Most of the condensed
tannins are water soluble but very large condensed
tannins are insoluble.
Complex tannins:
These are the reported as the mixture of both
hydrolysable and condensed tannins. There
properties are in between both types of tannins.
Example: Tannic Acid
(i) Hamamelis
Botanical region: Hamamelis virginiana
Family: Hammamelidaceae
Part used: Dried leaves
Habit: Shrub
Habitat:
It is widely distributed in USA & Canada. The plant
is found in Virginia, although the actual habitat
ranges from New Brunswick to Minnesota and
extends southward to Florida and Texas.
Pharmacognostic features:
The leaves are shortly petiolate, 7-15 cm long, and
broadly oval to ovate in shape. The lamina is dark
brownish to green in color and very papery in texture.
The drug has slight odour and the taste is bitter.
Constituents:
It contains Gallotannins, Ellagitannins, Free gallic
acid, Proanthocyanidins, Hamamelitannin, Hexose
sugar, Traces of volatile oil, and Calcium oxalate
crystals.
Medicinal uses:
- It is used as astringent.
- It has hemostatic properties.
- It is used for the treatment of swellings,
inflammations and tumors.
- It is as ingredient in eye lotions.
Structure:
(ii) Catechu
Botanical origin: Uncaria gambir
Family: Rubiaceae
Part used: Leaves and young twigs
Habit: Shrub
Habitat: It is native to topical Asia.
Collection: The drug is the dried aqueous extract
prepared by the climbers, boiling in water and then
filtration. The filtrate is
concentrated
to a thick paste which is then
divided into cubes and sun dried.
Constituents:
It contains tannins. The main component is
Catechins. Among the others; Catechu tannic acid,
catechu red, quercetin, gambir fluorescein.
Medicinal uses:
- Internally, it is used for the treatment of inflamed
tissues of mucous membrane of mouth & throat.
- Externally, it is used as astringent on skin.
- Commercially it is used in lather tanning industry.
- It is used in the dyeing industry.
Structure:
(iii) Nutgalls
Botanical origin: Quercus infectoria
Family: Fagaceae
Part used: Excrescence obtained from young twigs
(abnormal vegetable growth on oak trees).
Habit: Tree
Habitat: They are distributed from Southern
Europe to Eastern Mediterranean region.
Production on plant:
The excrescence are produced by the insect gall
wasps, Adleria gallaetictoria. They are commercial
source of tannic acid. They lay eggs on the young tree
when larvae emerges it secret an enzyme containing
secretion which convert starch into sugar in the
vicinity of larvae.
As the starch disappears from the neighborhood of
larvae shrinkage of tissue occurs and a central cavity
is formed in which the insect passes through his
developmental stages i.e. larvae to pupil and then
insect, and that hard body which in circular,
abnormal vegetable growth, is called nutgalls.
Constituents:
Nutgalls, also known as oak galls, or Turkish galls.
 It contain 50 to 70 % tannic acid i.e. Gallo tannic acid and it
is a complex mixture of phenolic acid glycosides .
Among the others are small percentage of
ellagic acid,
sitosterols,
nyctanthic acid,
 syringic acid,
 roburic acid,
 methyl oleanolate, and methyl betulate.
Medicinal uses:
- It is claimed to have biological activities like
antidiabetic, and antitremorine (anti tremor).
- It is used as local anesthetic, and antipyretic.
- Internally it is used as anti-inflammatory.
- It has astringent action.
- It has antibacterial, and antiviral activity.
It also used as styptic (stop bleeding) or hemostatic.
- Commercially it is used in the preparation of inks
and in leather tanning industry.
- In the traditional medicine of Chinese the injection
prepared by Chinese nut galls are used to treat piles
& hemorrhoids.
- Syringic acid has been identified as CNS active
component of methanolic extract of nutgalls.
Commercial Grades:
There are three commercial grades available blue,
green and white. In the first two grades the insect
isn’t escaped and thus are of good quality and good
source of tannic acid. While, the white has no insect
inside in it and thus isn’t considered well.