PHYTOCHEMISTRY REVISION QUESTIONS
Q1. What is phytochemistry?
Q2. Define the term “phytochemicals.”
Q3. What is the difference between primary and secondary metabolites in plants?
Q4. Give two examples of primary metabolites in plants.
Q5. Give two examples of secondary metabolites in plants.
Q6. What is the main role of alkaloids in plants?
Q7. Name one plant that produces caffeine.
Q8. What are flavonoids primarily known for in plants?
Q9. Define tannins in simple terms.
Q10. What is the function of terpenoids in plants?
Q11. Name the basic building block of terpenoids.
Q12. What are glycosides?
Q13. Why do plants produce secondary metabolites?
Q14. What is chromatography used for in phytochemistry?
Q15. Name one method used to extract phytochemicals from plants.
Q16. What is maceration in plant extraction?
Q17. What is the role of solvents in phytochemical extraction?
Q18. Name one solvent commonly used in phytochemical studies.
Q19. What is the difference between polar and non-polar compounds?
Q20. Why is ethanol commonly used in extraction of plant compounds?
Q21. Explain the difference between qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis.
Q22. What is the importance of phytochemical screening in medicinal plants?
Q23. Describe the role of thin layer chromatography (TLC) in phytochemistry.
Q24. What is an Rf value in chromatography?
Q25. How is the Rf value calculated in TLC?
Q26. What are saponins and what characteristic property do they exhibit?
Q27. Mention two biological activities of flavonoids.
Q28. What is the structural difference between monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes?
Q29. Define essential oils and give one example.
Q30. What is the role of phenolic compounds in plants?
Q31. What are cardiac glycosides and where are they commonly found?
, Q32. Explain why alkaloids are considered pharmacologically important.
Q33. What is solvent partitioning in phytochemical extraction?
Q34. What is the purpose of Soxhlet extraction?
Q35. Name two advantages of Soxhlet extraction over maceration.
Q36. What is meant by “bioactivity-guided fractionation”?
Q37. Why is drying of plant material important before extraction?
Q38. What is the difference between crude extract and isolated compound?
Q39. What is the role of UV light in TLC analysis?
Q40. What factors can affect the yield of phytochemicals during extraction?
Q41. Discuss the classification of plant secondary metabolites with suitable examples.
Q42. Explain the biosynthetic origin of alkaloids in plants.
Q43. Describe the role of the shikimic acid pathway in phytochemical biosynthesis.
Q44. Compare phenolic compounds and terpenoids in terms of structure and function.
Q45. Explain the principles and applications of column chromatography in plant compound
isolation.
Q46. A plant extract shows multiple spots on TLC. Explain how you would identify the active
compound.
Q47. Discuss the chemical nature, classification, and biological importance of flavonoids.
Q48. Explain the steps involved in solvent extraction of phytochemicals from plant material.
Q49. What are the advantages and limitations of using methanol and ethanol in phytochemical
extraction?
Q50. Describe the structure, classification, and function of tannins in plants.
Q51. Explain the role of alkaloids as plant defense compounds and their pharmacological relevance.
Q52. Discuss the methods used for qualitative detection of phytochemicals in plant extracts.
Q53. Explain how environmental factors influence the production of secondary metabolites in
plants.
Q54. Describe the mechanism of action of saponins at the cellular level.
Q55. What is gas chromatography (GC), and how is it applied in phytochemistry?
Q56. Compare GC and HPLC in the analysis of plant secondary metabolites.
Q57. Explain the concept of chemotaxonomy and its importance in plant classification.
Q58. Discuss the role of antioxidant activity in medicinal plants and its phytochemical basis.
Q59. Describe how plant secondary metabolites can be used in drug development.
Q1. What is phytochemistry?
Q2. Define the term “phytochemicals.”
Q3. What is the difference between primary and secondary metabolites in plants?
Q4. Give two examples of primary metabolites in plants.
Q5. Give two examples of secondary metabolites in plants.
Q6. What is the main role of alkaloids in plants?
Q7. Name one plant that produces caffeine.
Q8. What are flavonoids primarily known for in plants?
Q9. Define tannins in simple terms.
Q10. What is the function of terpenoids in plants?
Q11. Name the basic building block of terpenoids.
Q12. What are glycosides?
Q13. Why do plants produce secondary metabolites?
Q14. What is chromatography used for in phytochemistry?
Q15. Name one method used to extract phytochemicals from plants.
Q16. What is maceration in plant extraction?
Q17. What is the role of solvents in phytochemical extraction?
Q18. Name one solvent commonly used in phytochemical studies.
Q19. What is the difference between polar and non-polar compounds?
Q20. Why is ethanol commonly used in extraction of plant compounds?
Q21. Explain the difference between qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis.
Q22. What is the importance of phytochemical screening in medicinal plants?
Q23. Describe the role of thin layer chromatography (TLC) in phytochemistry.
Q24. What is an Rf value in chromatography?
Q25. How is the Rf value calculated in TLC?
Q26. What are saponins and what characteristic property do they exhibit?
Q27. Mention two biological activities of flavonoids.
Q28. What is the structural difference between monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes?
Q29. Define essential oils and give one example.
Q30. What is the role of phenolic compounds in plants?
Q31. What are cardiac glycosides and where are they commonly found?
, Q32. Explain why alkaloids are considered pharmacologically important.
Q33. What is solvent partitioning in phytochemical extraction?
Q34. What is the purpose of Soxhlet extraction?
Q35. Name two advantages of Soxhlet extraction over maceration.
Q36. What is meant by “bioactivity-guided fractionation”?
Q37. Why is drying of plant material important before extraction?
Q38. What is the difference between crude extract and isolated compound?
Q39. What is the role of UV light in TLC analysis?
Q40. What factors can affect the yield of phytochemicals during extraction?
Q41. Discuss the classification of plant secondary metabolites with suitable examples.
Q42. Explain the biosynthetic origin of alkaloids in plants.
Q43. Describe the role of the shikimic acid pathway in phytochemical biosynthesis.
Q44. Compare phenolic compounds and terpenoids in terms of structure and function.
Q45. Explain the principles and applications of column chromatography in plant compound
isolation.
Q46. A plant extract shows multiple spots on TLC. Explain how you would identify the active
compound.
Q47. Discuss the chemical nature, classification, and biological importance of flavonoids.
Q48. Explain the steps involved in solvent extraction of phytochemicals from plant material.
Q49. What are the advantages and limitations of using methanol and ethanol in phytochemical
extraction?
Q50. Describe the structure, classification, and function of tannins in plants.
Q51. Explain the role of alkaloids as plant defense compounds and their pharmacological relevance.
Q52. Discuss the methods used for qualitative detection of phytochemicals in plant extracts.
Q53. Explain how environmental factors influence the production of secondary metabolites in
plants.
Q54. Describe the mechanism of action of saponins at the cellular level.
Q55. What is gas chromatography (GC), and how is it applied in phytochemistry?
Q56. Compare GC and HPLC in the analysis of plant secondary metabolites.
Q57. Explain the concept of chemotaxonomy and its importance in plant classification.
Q58. Discuss the role of antioxidant activity in medicinal plants and its phytochemical basis.
Q59. Describe how plant secondary metabolites can be used in drug development.
