Anthracene Glycosides

| Home | | Pharmacognosy |

Chapter: Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry : Drugs Containing Glycosides

Anthracene glycosides are chiefly found in dicot plants but to some extent it is also found in monocot and lower plants. It consists of glycosides formed from aglycone moieties like anthraquinones, anthranols, anthrones or dimers of anthrones or their derivatives.


ANTHRACENE GLYCOSIDES

 

 

Anthracene glycosides are chiefly found in dicot plants but to some extent it is also found in monocot and lower plants. It consists of glycosides formed from aglycone moi-eties like anthraquinones, anthranols, anthrones or dimers of anthrones or their derivatives. Anthrones are insoluble in alkali and do not show strong fluorescence with them, while anthronols which are soluble in alkali show strong fluorescence. The reduced anthraquinones are biologically more active. Anthroquinones that are present in fresh drugs are in reduced form, which on long storage get oxidized and hydrolysed, Glycosides of reduced derivatives are more active than oxidized aglycones. This is due to the fact that sugars take the glycosides to the site of action and thus are more active.

 

Anthraquinone is an aromatic organic compound and a derivative of anthracene. It has the appearance of yellow or light grey to grey-green solid crystalline powder. Its chemical formula is C14H 8O2. It melts at 286°C, boils at 379.8°C. It is insoluble in water or alcohol, but dissolves in nitrobenzene and aniline. It is chemically fairly stable under normal conditions.

 

Anthraquinone naturally occurs in some plants (e.g. aloe, senna, rhubarb and cascara), fungi, lichens and insects, where it serves as a basic skeleton for their pigments. Natural anthraquinone derivates tend to have laxative effects.

 

These glycosides are characterized by a chemical test, known as Borntrager test and show the property of micro-sublimation. Most of the glycosides are O-glycosides and

 


 

S-glycosides, by their hydrolysis derivatives of 1,8-dihydroxy anthraquinone, anthranol, anthrone, or dianthrone are obtained.

 

The common aglycones are aloe-emodin, emodin, rhein, chrysophanol and physcion which may exist as anthraquinones, anthranols or anthrones. The sugars presents are usually arabinose, rhamnose and glucose.

 

In the drug originally glycosides of reduced derivatives or their dimers are present. During drying and storage by hydrolysis and oxidation free anthraquinones are produced.

 

Contact Us, Privacy Policy, Terms and Compliant, DMCA Policy and Compliant

TH 2019 - 2025 pharmacy180.com; Developed by Therithal info.