Containing Bitter Principles

Mixtures of bitter substances of unknown structure can likewise be separated by TLC. The bitter value is estimated according to Wasicky [231] by determining the bitter substance threshold this is the dilution (with water) at which a bitter taste can just still be detected. 

Planch.) contains a number of bitter principles and that they are not identical with those in a Brasilian wood from Aeschrion crenata Vel. [233]. 

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II. Order Salicales.—Salicacea or Willow Family.—Shrubs or trees of temperate or cold regions, with upright woody stems. Bark often containing bitter principles (Salicin etc.). 

SimarubacecB or Ailanthus Family.—A family of chiefly tropical shrubs or trees containing bitter principles. The leaves are alternate and pinnate. The flowers are dioecious or polygamous and arranged in axillary panicles Picrasma excelsa) or racemes Quassia amara). The plants are distinguished from those of the Rutacea by the absence of secretory cavities. 

Glandular trichomes can be separated from the strobiles by sifting and this material is known as lupulin. Hops contain bitter principles (15-25%) consisting of two types of resin, hard and soft, which are important in beer production. 

The Aristolochias are used in medicine as tonics due to the presence of bitter principles, though Hesse suggested that A. reticulata Nutt, then the serpentary root of commerce, might contain aristolochine, and the view that the bitter constituents are of alkaloidal character has been confirmed by Krishnaswamy, Manjunath and Rao, for A. indica L. 

The aposematic beetle, Metriorrhynchus rhipidius, contains three pyrazines as warning odor components and two amides as bitter principles (Tables III, V, and VIII) (97). Of the three components with the beetlelike odor, the most characteristic is 2-methoxy-3-isopropylpyrazine (24b). The other two components are 2-methoxy-3-methylpyrazine (24a) and 2-methoxy-3-sec-butylpyrazine (24d). It would seem likely that these compounds will occur in the defensive systems of the aposematic beetles. The two amide components, detectable in the hemo-lymph exuded by adult beetles, are 3-phenylpropanamide (130) and l-methyl-2-quinolone (57), the latter being the major component. It seems likely that these bitter principles contribute to distastefulness to potential predators. 

Tannin. Bitter principle of plant containing plant polyphenols. 

Other roots and rhizomes related to this group include Leptandra (Culver s root), from Veronica virginica, which contains an amorphous bitter principle, not a crystalline glucoside as formerly reported. Leptandrin is a resinoid and pharmacologically inert but was supposed to be cholagogic without producing intestinal irritation. 

In 1853, it was demonstrated that coca leaves contained tannic acid and a peculiar bitter principle, resin, tannin, an aromatic principle, extractive, chlorophyll, a substance analogous to theine, and salts of lime. In 1855, the crystalline alkaloid erythroxyline was discovered in coca leaves, which was called cocaine. The earlier methods for isolating cocaine were as follows ... 

X-ray analyses of (5,5)-fused heterocycles are being reported in increasing numbers. The structure of Clerodin, the bitter principle of Clerodendron infortunatum which contains a furo[2,3-6]furan ring moiety (1), was elucidated by an X-ray study (61MI43600). 

Lactucin is a bitter principle of the leaf vegetable chicory (Cichorium endivia), which is cooked or used for salads in western Europe.152 It is also contained in the form of j>-hydroxyphenyl acetate as lactucopicrin, which is known to have a sedative effect on the central nervous system.153 On the contrary, a bitter-tasting sesquiterpene... 

Menispermacea, or Moonseed Family.—Choripetalous woody, climbing, tropical plants with alternate, exstipulate, simple often peltate leaves. Flowers green to white. Fruit a one-seeded succulent drupe. Seeds albuminous. They usually contain tonic, narcotic or poisonous bitter principles. 

Calomba, calombo. Colombo, columbo The root of an African plant (Jateorhlza cotumba), family Menlspermacal. It contains the bitter principle columbln and is used as a tonic. 

Centaurii herba (2) contains swertiamarin as main bitter principle, found as a pronounced brown-blue zone at R 0.4 directly below the weak concentrated zone of... 

The genus Swertia was founded by Linnaeus in 1753. The plant species are erect annual, biennial or perennial herbs, generally distributed in tropical to temperate Himalayas between 1,200-3,000 m. The genus Swertia contains different bitter principles which are generally the iridoids and secoiridoids. There are many species of Swertia that are sources of iridoids and secoiridoids. About 250 species occur throughout the world. Nearly 32 species occur in India of which 15 occur in N-W Himalaya. Almost all the species have medicinal properties. Important among them is S. chirata which is used as a medicinal remedy since long and is known as chirata [67, 68]. 

This reversal of orientation has been used to prepare (4) in a projected total synthesis of quassin (5), the bitter principle of Quassia amara, which contains... 

Secoiridoid glycosides are monoterpenes that are derived from secologanin, their biosynthetic precursor. They represent the bitter principles of many plant families, especially in the Comales, Dipsacales and Gentianales orders. They may occur as esters with different acids, and especially with biphenylcarbonic acids, which enhance strongly their bitter taste. Plant containing these compounds are used in many herbal preparations for their stomachic properties. 

C2iH27N306, Mr 417.46, amoiphous solid. The fruit bodies of the giant club (Clavariadelphus pistillaris, Basidiomycetes) contains the bitter principle R, which is also responsible for the dark green color reaction of the toadstool with iron(lll) chloride solution. P. is a spermidine derivative and is also found in bitter species of coral fungi (Ramaria, Basidiomycetes). 

Q. is used in the food industry as a bitter principle, according to legal regulations brandies may contain up to 50 mg/L Q. as bitter component. Q. has a bitter taste even at a dilution of 1 60 000. In mammals Q. can effect a decrease in heart rate and, at higher concentrations, muscular convulsions and paralyses. The commercially available quassin is a mixture of quassin, neoquassin, isoquassin, and 18-hydroxy-quassin. Q. can be used as a substitute for emetine hydrochloride (see ipecac alkaloids). Some pentacyclic Q. have antiviral, antiparasitic, insecticidal, antifeedant, amoebicidic, and anti-inflammatory activities. 

Saffron (from Arabic zafaran=to be yellow). The dried, aromatic-smelling flowerheads of the saffron plant Crocus sativus, Iridaceae), indigenous to southern Europe, which contain the yellow pigment crocin (see crocetin) and the bitter principle picrocrocin (saffron bitter, see safranal). Characteristic flavor com-... 

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