Introduction
• Chemotaxonomy, also called chemosystematics, is the method of
classification and identification of organisms according to
confirmable differences and similarities in their biochemical
compositions.
• Chemotaxonomy has been used in all the groups of the plant
kingdom starting from the simple organisms, such as fungi and
bacteria, up to the most highly advanced and specialized groups of
angiosperms.
Purpose of chemotaxonomy
The method of chemotaxonomy is used in the classification
of plants for two purposes:
1. To improve the existing system of plant
classification.
2. To develop the present day knowledge of natural
relationships of plants.
History of chemotaxonomy
The concept of classification of plants based on
chemical characteristics is not new.
It is started by anatomist Newman ,Grey and James who
recognized medicinal effects of umbelliferous plants.
Greshoff in 1909, suggested that chemical characters
should be included in natural classification.
Classification of chemotaxonomy
1. Descriptive taxonomy:
Deals with the classification of plants and secondary metabolites
and other products like sugar and amino acid.
2. Dynamic taxonomy:
Is Based on classification of plants based on their biosynthetic
pathway.
3. Sero taxonomy:
Is Based on classification of plants based on their protein and
amino acid pathways.
Different stages of chemotaxonomic
investigation
1. Sound sampling
2. Modification of suitable chemical techniques
3. Analyses of all materials
4. Interpretation of data and its comparison from all
sources
1. Sound sampling
The collection of plant sample is done :
By Professional plant collector
From national garden
Professional plant seller
Personal travel and collection
2. Modification of suitable chemical
technique
Depending upon the choice of investigator
Intraspecific chemical variation
Qualitative and quantitative variation between
different parts of same plant
3. Analyses of all materials
Qualitative and quantities analysis is done by
phytochemical screening ,electrophoresis,
chromatography, fingerprint, and spectroscopy
4. Interpretation of data and its comparison from all sources
All the data obtained from chemistry phylogenetic
taxonomy is interpreted and depending upon the
evidence the classification of plant should be
recognized.
Categories of compounds used in
chemotaxonomy
The science of chemotaxonomy or chemical taxonomy
is used for the classification of plants on the basis of
their chemical constituents.
All the living organisms produce secondary
metabolites that are derived from primary metabolites.
Categories of compounds used Cont’d:
The chemical structure of the secondary
metabolites and their biosynthetic pathways is often
specific and restricted to taxonomically related
organisms and hence is very useful in classification.
Cont’d
Three broad categories of compounds are used in
chemotaxonomy. These are:-
1. Primary metabolites
2. Secondary metabolites
3. Semantics
1. Primary metabolites
Primary metabolites are the compounds that are involved in the
fundamental metabolic pathways.
Most of the primary metabolites are of universal occurrence and
utilized by the plant itself for growth and development
These compounds are ubiquitous in nature and hence play little role in
chemotaxonomic classification.
Primary metabolites
Cont’d:
However, these molecules sometimes serve as useful
chemotaxonomic behavior on the basis of their
quantities.
For example, carbohydrate sedoheptulose is present in
the genus sedum in large quantity.
Therefore, the accumulation of sedoheptulose in the
species of genus sedum serves as a useful chemical
character in chemotaxonomic classification.
Fig.1: sedoheptulose
2. Secondary metabolites
Secondary metabolites are the compounds that usually perform non-essential
functions in the plants
They are used for protection and defense against predators and pathogens.
These compounds are of restricted occurrence
and hence very useful for chemotaxonomic classification.
Some of the major group of secondary metabolites includes
glycoside, alkaloid, volatile oil, flavonoid, plant phenols and
terpenoids.
E.g (Chemotaxonomic analysis based on alkaloids depends upon the type of
parent base compound present in the alkaloids such as pyridine, piperidine,
pyrazole and indole).
)
Fig 2: Flavonod glycosides
Fig 3: Cyanogenic glycosides
Fig 4: Glucosinolates
Fig 5: Alkaloids
Fig 6: Phenols
Example:
A chemotaxonomic study of practically all the
species of the genus Aloe showed that flavonoids
occur as major compounds in 31 out of a total of
380 species investigated.
The six species of the genus Aloe , Aloe alooides,
Aloe castanea, Aloe dolomitica, Aloe spicata, Aloe
tauri, and Aloe vryheidensis, are characterized
chemotaxonomically by the presence of a
metabolite called 6-O-coumaroylaloesin.
Limitations of Chemotaxonomic Classification
The content and sometimes presence of secondary
metabolites fluctuate in plants due to various factors that
play a vital role in their biosynthetic pathways and further
accumulation
This fluctuation in plant secondary metabolites has
limitations in chemotaxonomic classification.
Limitations of Chemotaxonomic
Classification Cont’d:
Environment is a major factor responsible for fluctuation in plant secondary
metabolites along with other contributing factors, such as genetic and
ontogenic factors.
To combat environmental stress, plants produce specific secondary
metabolites. Same plants present in different environments also produce
their own secondary metabolites when come in contact with different types
of abiotic components like soil, water, light and temperature.
Hence, their variations lead to variations in the production of their
secondary metabolites, which causes limitations in their chemotaxonomic
classification.
Summary
With the advancement of analytical techniques, today so many groups of
plants are there in which phytochemical data has contributed to extensive
taxonomic improvements.
The presence or absence of a particular phytochemical in a plant along
with the knowledge of its biochemical synthetic pathways can be used to
assign its taxonomic position.
There is a lot in the future for the chemotaxonomic classification because
from the estimated 400,000 to 500,000 plant species around the globe,
only a small percentage have been investigated phytochemically.
Thank
You!!!
References
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