Herb Chemistry Herbal Chemistry Herbal Tannins
Herbal Tannins |
What Are Herbal Tannins?Herbal Tannins are the most critical chemicals in herbal plant chemistry and these components are found very widely throughout the plant world. Herbal Tannins form a large group of compounds called polyphenols and their role in the plant kingdom is a subject of controversy and available research findings suggest that they are the metabolic waste products of plants. However, what is presumed to be a waste product for one living entity is a class of drugs to humans. One of the earliest uses for tannins is the tanning of animal hides and converting them into leather. This is possible because tannins breakdown protein complexes in to insoluble enzymes and make them resistant to proteolytic enzymes. This non-human use of herbal tannins has been extended to living tissues and this special usage is often referred to as “astringency”. Most tannins are sour in their taste and in Chinese medicine, astringents are frequently used as herbal drugs. Basically, there are two types of tannins: the hydrolysable and the condensed tannins. The first types are the byproducts of simple phenol acids such as Gallic or ellagic acid, while the second types are compounds that turn brownish, when exposed to ambient air, and these compounds are the reason for the brown color of many plant tinctures that are used for healing wounds and cuts. Properties of Herbal TanninsAll tannins have similar properties in them and some of them are:
Using Herbal TanninsThe most common use of plant tannins is for the treatment and cure of wounds, scratches and lesions. Herbal Tannins can also form a fine, thin protective layer over the wounds and prevent exposure to bad weather elements and microorganisms. Tannins could also be used to treat and heal serious burn wounds and help avoid septicemia.On consumption, herbal tannins also act as anti-inflammatory agents by forming a thin leathery layer on the sensitive walls of the stomach and duodenum. This fine action results in a healing application that prevents gastritis, enteritis, esophagitis and inflammatory bowel problems. Traditionally, herbal tannins have been widely used to treat severe cases of diarrhea and dysentery, with their prohibitive action on the possible inflammatory action of infection over the stomach and intestinal epithelial walls. However, on the down side herbal tannins may precipitate dietary protein and enzymes into insoluble compounds that are non-digestible and non-nutritious in their nature. |
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