Secondary

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Secondary Compounds
Coumarins, Lignin, Flavonoids, Tanins
Ashley Malinowski Emma McAllister Kelli Meyer
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Coumarins

• Phytochemicals are non-nutritive plant chemicals
  that have protective or diseases-preventative
  properties.
• Plants produce these secondary compounds to
  protect themselves.
• Coumarin is an example of a phytochemical.

Coumarin C9H6O2
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Coumarins

• Coumarin has a vanilla like flavor, is an oxygen
  heterocycle, and can occur either free or
  combined with sugar glucose.
• Coumarin is found in several plants such as tonka
  beans, lavender, cinnamon, and sweet clover.

• It works as a pesticide in plants that produce
  it.
• Coumarin also protects humans against certain
  diseases. It has blood thinning, anti-fungicidal,
  and anti-tumor activities. However, it can be
  toxic at high doses for a long period of time.

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Flavonoids

• Polyphenolic compounds with 15 C atoms, 2
  benzene rings on linear 3 C chain
• Over 4,000 flavonoids
• Easily recognized as flower pigments in most
  angiosperm plants but are not always flower
  pigments
• In plants they repair damage and shield from
  environmental toxins

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Flavonoids

• Act like antioxidants. How effective they are
  depends on their molecular structural
  characteristics
• Some flavonoids in hops and beer have been
  found to have better antioxidant effects than tea
  or red wine most flavonoids are found in fruits,
  vegetables, teas, and other drinks.
• Flavonoids have been known to have antiviral,
  anti-allergic, antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory,
  antitumor and antioxidant activities

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Lignin

• Compounds are complex with 3D polymers that all
  have a phenylpropane structure (1 benzene ring
  with 3C tail
• In natural form, so complex non has ever been
  completely described.
• Many compounds, not just one
• Key participant in forming organic material from
  C in atmosphere
• Molecular weights may reach 15,000
• Contain acid but are not acid themselves
• Very resistant to degradation

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Lignin

• Found in all plants, mostly between the cells but
  also within the cell walls.
• Most important component in terrestrial plants
  after cellulose
• Gives vegetables their crunch and provides Fiber
• Nearly 1/3 of all plant tissues
• Grouped into several types from hardwoods,
  softwoods, and grasses. Vary from species to
  species.
• Bonded very complexly to carbohydrates in wood
• Helps regulate the transport of liquid in plants
  by keeping the cell walls from collapsing and
  regulating the flow of the liquid

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Tannins

• Tannins are astringent, bitter tasting
  polyphenols that bind and precipitate proteins
• The term tannins refers to the source of tannins
  used in tanning animal hides into leather
• Located in various plant tissues such as bud,
  leaf, root, seed, and stem tissues
• Located mainly in the vacuoles or surface wax of
  the plants

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Tannins

• Most tannins are water soluble, but some very
  large condensed tannins are insoluble
• Have molecular weight ranging from 500 to over
  3,000
• If ingested in large quantities, tannins can
  inhibit the absorption of minerals into the body
• Tannins are usually divided into two groups

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Two Groups of Tannins

• Hydrolyzable tannins
• Molecules with a polyol core (often glucose)
• Hydrolyzed by mild acids or mild bases to yield
  carbohydrate and phenolic acids
• Proantocyanindins (condensed tannins)
• Condensed chemical structure
• Can contain 2-50 flavonoid units
• Responsible for the pink, scarlet, red, mauve,
  violet, and blue colors in flowers, leaves, and
  fruits
• Responsible for the astringent taste of fruits
  and wines

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Tannins

• Tea
• Wine
• Pomegranates
• Persimmons
• Most berries (cranberries, strawberries, and
  blueberries have both types of tannins)

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Works Cited
http//www.cgu.edu.tw/DMI/lavendar.jpg http//www.
phytochemicals.info/phytochemicals/coumarin.php
http//lpi.oregonstate.edu/f-w00/flavonoid.html ht
tp//www.friedli.com/herbs/phytochem/flavonoids.ht
ml http//www.clevelandclinic.org/heartcenter/pub/
guide/prevention/nutrition/chocolate.htm
http//palimpsest.stanford.edu/byorg/abbey/ap/ap04
/ap04-4/ap04-402.html http//www.kolumbus.fi/kaj.f
orss/lignin.html
http//www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/toxicagents/ta
nnin/index.html