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Glucose-cyclo-Acetoacetate as a Precursor of Ascorbic Acid in Germinating Green Gram

Abstract

THAT glucose-cyclo-acetoacetate acts as a precursor of ascorbic acid in germinating green gram or mung beans (Phaseolus radiatus) has been shown by Nath and his associates1–3 and confirmed by the use of labelled glucose-cyclo-acetoacetate by Thangamani and Sarma4. Neither the titrometric indophenol dye method of Bessey and King5 nor the colorimetric method of Roe and Kuether6 is specific for L-ascorbic acid. We have therefore used paper chromatography to identify the additional reducing substance formed from glucose-cyclo-acetoacetate during the process of germination which decolorizes the indophenol dye, and find it to be L-ascorbic acid.

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References

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NATH, M., BELKHODE, M. Glucose-cyclo-Acetoacetate as a Precursor of Ascorbic Acid in Germinating Green Gram. Nature 183, 1258–1259 (1959). https://doi.org/10.1038/1831258a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1831258a0

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