Phytochemical report Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Phytochemical report - Coursework Example The tree height is between 5 to 8 meters. It is traditionally used as treatment remedy option for intestinal diseases, diarrhea and dysentery (Jindal and Sharma, 2004). The pomegranate fruit is comprised of almost 550% of full pomegranate mass. It contains 85% sap and 15% seeds. The fresh liquid is composed of 80% water, 15% whole sugars, and 2.5% pectin, polyphenolic flavonoids and the ascorbic acid. The critically abundant phytochemicals present in the juice of pomegranate are tannins. The most frequent phytochemicals in the pomegranate are the hydrolysable tannins. These are known as ellagitannins and are produced as the result of binding between some carbohydrate and the ellagic acid. Punicalagins are the type of tannins which have the property of scavenging for free radicals present in our body (Kulkarni et al , 2007). They have the potential to be used as therapeutics (Heber, 2008). Some other phytochemicals present are catechins which are polyphenolic in nature, gallocatechins and a variety of anthocyanins like cyanidin and prodelphinidins etc (Plumb et al., 2002). Due to the presence of these phytochemicals the pomegranate plant is very abundantly used as a therapeutic agent like bark of the root is used in the treatment of parasites residing in the intestine like tape worms. We will focus on the effects of punicalagins as they are readily absorbed and have a critical value as anti oxidants. Different studies involving the fruit extract and also the flower extract showed that there is high content of punicalagins in them and the therapeutic potential of this compound is very diverse. It is basically a poly phenolic compound. Particularly speaking the punicalagins  are the huge compounds of polyphenols which are the isomers of 2, 3 - (S) -hexahydroxydiphenoyl-4,6-(S,S) - gallagyl- D- glucose. The molecular weight is 1085 reparation (Bialonska, et al, 2009). Affects of Processing on Punicalagins   The homogeneous punicalagins is made by performing the extractions with different solvents of the comminuted pomegranate outgrowth. It has the reddish brown appearance and the total yield is about 30% to 35 % punicalagins. There is as such no effect of processing on the structure and activities of the compound. It maintains its native properties and is used commercially as an antioxidant. The final product is in the powder form. Different methods have been devised for the extraction of organic compounds, so similarly there have been a number of methods which have been used for the isolation and purification of the punicalagins. The organic extraction method is one of the safest and relatively cost effective methods. Whatever the method may be used, special care is taken in order to maintain the stability and activity of the product so that it can be used commercially or experimentally. For the purification relatively benign and highly specific and sensitive techniques are used like High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). As this is a very sensitive and rapid method the extracts can be easily purified by it. Studies are still under process to improve the methods of extraction of these bioactive compounds in their native form (Heber, 2008). Effects in the body Punicalagins are extremely exclusive and strong polyphenol antioxidant which metabolize into ellagic acid. The rate of absorption of