1. Plant secondary metabolites
Dr. Muayad S. Shawkat
University of Baghdad
College of Science
Department of Biotechnology

2. Plant secondary metabolites are a diverse group of molecules that are involved in the adaptation of plants to their environment but are not part of the primary biochemical pathways of cell growth and reproduction.
These compounds are played many important rules in plant life such as involved in defense against herbivores and pathogens, regulation of symbiosis, control of seed germination, and chemical inhibition of competing plant species (allelopathy), and therefore are an integral part of the interactions of species in plant and animal communities and the adaptation of plants to their environment.

3. In addition, plant secondary metabolites are also associated with improved nutritive value and may have beneficial effects on animal health.
Growing interest in the potential health-promoting effects of plant secondary metabolites in human foods has prompted research on their potential to prevent or treat cancer, circulatory disease, and viral infection.
The mechanisms by which these substances have beneficial effects on health may also be related to their toxic effects, and the difference between toxicity and beneficial effects may be dose- and structure-dependent. The term “plant extract" determines the part/parts of a plant used for preparing medicine (for example: leaves, flowers, seeds, roots, barks, stem....etc). Studies on the use of plant extracts for controlling disease have shown the importance of natural chemicals (phytochemicals) as possible sources of non-phytotoxic and easily biodegradable, alternative fungicides and antibiotics

4. Preparing the plant Material:
Plants were dried before extraction.
freeing of plant under study from contamination
From other plants from disease
Extraction: as the term is used pharmaceutically, involves the separation of medicinally active portions of plant or animal tissues from various parts of plants by using selective solvents in standard extraction procedures. Selection of the solvent depends on the polarity of solvent and solubility of the desired components of the material.

5. General methods Extraction:
choosing of the precise method of extraction depend on texture and water content of the plant material.
Maceration
the whole or coarsely powdered crude drug is placed in a container with the solvent and allowed to stand at room temperature for a period of at least 3 days with frequent agitation until the soluble matter has dissolved.

6. 2. Hot Continuous Extraction (Soxhlet)
In this method, the finely ground crude drug is placed in a porous bag or “thimble” made of strong filter paper, which is placed in chamber E of the Soxhlet apparatus. The extracting solvent in flask A is heated, and its vapors condense in condenser D. The condensed extractant drips into the thimble containing the crude drug, and extracts it by contact. When the level of liquid in chamber E rises to the top of siphon tube C, the liquid contents of chamber E siphon into flask A.

7. CO2 Photosynthesis Primary carbon metabolism pyruvate
Pentose phosphate pathway
Phosphoenol pyruvate
Acetyl Co-A
TCA Cycle
Erythrose-4-phosphate
Aliphatic amino acid
Shikimic acid
Malonic acid Pathway
Nitrogen containing compounds
Mevalonic acid Pathway
Aromatic amino acids
Phenolic compounds
Terpenes

8. Main Groups of plant secondary metabolites
A/ Terpenoids B/ Nitrogen containing secondary metabolites C/ Phenolic compounds

9. The Terpenoids ISOPRENE C5 is the basic unit of the terpenoids
Production in Plants: * Flowers
* Leaves
* Fruit
Biological Role(volatile and non volatile):
-Flavour, fragrance, scent
-Antibiotics
-Hormones
-Membrane lipids
-Insect attractants
-Insect antifeedants

10. Terpenoids --Important Molecules !
C5-hemiterpenes -e.g. isoprene C10-monoterpenes -e.g. limonene C15-sesquiterpene -e.g. abscisic acid (ABA) C20-diterpene -e.g. gibberellin C30-triterpne -e.g. brassinosteroids C40-tetraterpenes -e.g. carotenoids > carbons -polyterpenes-e.g. ubiquinones, rubber

12. Nitrogen containing compounds!
Alkaloids (pseudo-, True-, proto-)
Extremly heterogenous group
alkali like
have important pharmacological properties
further classified in to many groups
Pyridine alkaloids , e.g. nicotine
pyrrolidine alkaloids , e.g. stachydrine
piperidine alkaloids , e.g. coniine
tropane alkaloids , e.g. atropine
quinoline alkaloids , e.g. quinine
Isoquinoline alkaloids , e.g. berberine
Quinolizidine alkaloids , e.g. lupinine
Indol alkaloids , e.g. resrpine
Imidazol alkaloids , e.g. pilocarpine

13. Pyridine and piperidine e.g. lobeline, nicotine
Phenylalkylamines:
e.g. Ephedrine
Pyridine and piperidine
e.g. lobeline, nicotine
Tropane
e.g. Atropine.

14. Quinoline
e.g.quinine and quinidine
Isoquinoline
e.g. papaverine
Phenantheren
e.g. Morphine

15. Indole
e.g.ergometrine
Imidazole
e.g. pilocarpine
Purine
e.g. caffeine

16. Steroidal
e.g. Solanum and Veratrum alkaloids
Terpenoid
e.g. Taxol

17. Cyanogenic glycosides
widely distributed in plants
volatile poisons
e.g. Lotustraline
Glucosinolates
contain nitrogen and sulpher
volatile toxins
strong deterrent

18. Cyanogenic Glycosides

19. Non-Protein amino acids
found in plants of the family leguminosae
e.g. Canavanine resemble in structure with arginine
there are not incorporated in to protiens

20. Phenolics
Plants produce a variety of compounds that contain one or more phenol groups - called phenolics
Thousands of phenolics occur in plants

21. Phenolics Large group of diverse compounds
Many serve as defense compounds against herbivores and pathogens
Some function in support – primary cmpd
Some attract pollinators
Some absorb UV light
Some reduce growth of competitors

22. Tannins They are high molecular weight phenolic compounds
They are widely distributed in plants.
capable of precipitation of animal proteins

23. Classification of Tannins:
Not hydrolysable,
no sugar in mol.

24. Uses of Tannins: 1) Antioxidant. 2) Antidiarrheal.
3) Antidote for heavy metals poisoning.
4)Treatment of burns, ulcers, inflammations
4) Astringent to stop bleeding (hemorrhage)
5)Treatment of Hemorrhoids.
6) Tanning industry.

25. Lignin a complex phenolic
Primary metabolite - secondary cell wall component occurs in all vascular plants
Structural function
Also protective because deters herbivores due to its toughness
Blocks growth of many pathogens because only small group of fungi can degrade

26. Flavinoids One of the largest classes of phenolics
Carbon skeleton has 15 carbons with two benzene rings connected by a 3-C bridge
-C3-

27. Anthocyanins Colored flavinoids - red, pink, blue, purple pigments
Attract animal pollinators and seed dispersers

28. cyanidine 3-rutinoside
Anthocyanin
cyanidine
cyanidine 3-glucoside
cyanidine 3-rutinoside B
peonidine
peonidine 3-glucoside
peonidine derivative
안토사이아닌의 색은 고리B에 결합한 치환기에 의해 결정되는데 OH기의 숫자가 증가하면 장파장의 흡수가 잘되서
청색을 나타내며 OH기가 CH3(메틸)기로 치환되면 단파장이 잘 흡수되어 더 적색을 나타낸다.
그래서 OH기가 3’, 4’ 위치에 붙어있는 시아니딘은 적자주색을 나타내고, 3’이 메틸기로 치환된 피오니딘은 다홍색을 나타낸다.

29. Flavones and Flavonols
Also flower pigments
Absorb UV not visible light - not visible to human eye but visible to many insects - maybe be attractants, nectar guides
Also present in leaves where they protect against UV-B damage
Appeared to be involved in legume roots in attracting N-fixing bacteria

30. Some applications of Important plants and their compounds in biotechnology

31. Green Tea (Camellia sinensis)
Polyphenols from leaves
anti-cancer inhibiting tumor initiation and cell proliferation
anti-oxidant

32. Wine Grape (Vitis vinifera)
Contains over 50 different flavonoid phenolics including resveratrol and catechins
Reduces heart disease by inhibiting platelet aggregation, lowering LDL (low density lipoproteins) and acting as antioxidants

33. Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
from the rhizome
Over 12 compounds with anti-oxidant activities greater than vitamin E
anti-tumor
anti-emetic (inhibits vomiting)

34. Garli c (Allium sativum) Onion (Allium cepa)
Organo-sulfur compounds from leaves
Anti-carcinogenic and anti-microbial
Anti-atherosclerosis and anti-hypertensive
Toxic in high amounts

35. Soybeans (Glycine max)
Contains phytoestrogens like isoflavones
Reduces health risks associated with menopause: osteoporosis and heart disease in women
Reduces prostrate, colon and breast cancer

36. Thank
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