Tannins are one of the most widely occuring group of natural substances in different families of higher plants. They are of two types-
1. Hydrolysable
2. Condensed
The pterocarpus is an example of condensed tannins which are non-hydrolysable.
3. Kingdom Plantae
Clade Angiosperms
Clade Eudicots
Clade Rosids
Order Fabales
Family Fabaceae
Submaily Faboideae
Tribe Dalbergiae
Genus Pterocarpus
Species P. macrocarpus
4.
5. Basic Characters
• Tree- Pterocarpus is a
deciduous tree that can
grow up to 30 m (98 ft)
tall.
Leaves and flowers-
The leaves are alternate,
3–9 cm long, trifoliate
with three leaflets.
The flowers are
produced in
short racemes.
• Fruit- The fruit is
a pod 6–9 cm long
containing one or
two seeds.
• Bark- 50–150 cm
diameter.
• Other- It is fast-growing
when young, reaching 5
metres (16 ft) tall in
three years, even on
degraded soils. It is not
frost tolerant, being
killed by temperatures
of −1 °C.
Macroscopic Character
• Colour- Ruby Red
• Odour- None
• Taste- Astringent
• Size- About 3-10mm
granules.
• Shape- angular grains
• Extra Feature- The
pieces of kino are
angular, glistening,
transparent, breaking
with vitreous fracture. It
is partly soluble in water
(about 80-90-%),
completely soluble in
alcohol (90%).
6. Kino contains about 70–80% of kinotannic acid, kino-red, k-
pyrocatechin (catechol), resin and gallic acid.
Kinotannic acid is glucosidal tannin, whereas kino-red is
anhydride of kinoin.
Kinoin is an insoluble phlobaphene and is produced by the action
of oxydase enzyme. It is darker in colour than kinotannic acid.
Roots contain liquid-ritigenin, garbanzol, pterosupin, pseudo-
dobatigenin, and 5-deoxy-kaempferol.
Kino gum contains kitannic acid.
7. When the solution of drug is treated with ferrous sulphate, green
colour is produced.
With alkali (like potassium hydroxide) violet colour is produced.
With mineral acid, a precipitate is obtained.
Water soluble extractives- not less than 18.75%
Alcohol insoluble extractives- not less than 80.0%
8. 1. Astringent- Used as an astringent for boils, skin eruptions and ulcers;
2. Toothache
3. Dysentry and Diarrhea
4. Passive haemorrhage
5. Diabetes- The aqueous infusion of the wood is considered to be of much
use in diabetes
6. Anti fungal activity-plant extract reacts on the growth of various fungal
growth like Piricularia Oryzae as well as colletotrichum falactum
7. Hypoglycemia- The alcoholic, as well as, aqueous extracts of heartwood
are known to possess hypoglycaemic action.
8. Printing
9. Other-Dying and Tanning
9. It is the one of the components of the preparation known as
Gludibit (Lupin Herbal Laboratory) and Diabecon (Hima-laya
Drug Company) for diabetes mellitus.
The cups made of wood are available with Khadi and Gramodyog
commission for treatment of diabetes.
10. Pharmacognosy, C. K. Kokate, A. P. Purohit, S.
B. Gokhale, 54th Edition, Nirali Prakashan,
Drugs Containing Tannins, Page 10.19-10.20.
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