Arnold Nordal

2-C-Methylaldotetronic acid, a new lactone-forming acid present in plants.

Abstract 2- C -Methylaldotetronic acid (probably the erythro form) was found in considerable amounts in Cannabis sativa , Cereus forbesii , C. peruvianus , Lophophora williamsii , Trichocereus santiaguensis , T. spachianus and T. strigosus . In addition, the acid was present in minor amounts in another five species, all from the Cactaceae. In total, this new plant acid was detected in 12 of 19 investigated species.

The Water-Soluble Carbohydrates of Papaver Somniferum L

From an aqueous extract of opium poppy capsules of Yugoslavian origin, the following carbohydrates were isolated: glucose, fructose, sucrose, sedoheptulose, mannoheptulose, plus a complex polysaccharide. The polysaccharide was isolated in two different ways, by means of an ion exchange resin and by precipitation with ethanol. The first‐mentioned procedure appeared to give the most genuine product, as the substance thus obtained formed a gel when sulphuric acid was added to an aqueous solution. Enzymatic hydrolysis with a pectase preparation liberated arabinose. The product isolated by ethanol precipitation gave no arabinose upon treatment with the enzyme preparation. By hydrolysis with acid, both products yielded the same monosaccharides, arabinose, xylose, rhamnose, glucose, galactose, uronic acid, and an unidentified component.

Colorimetric determination of sedoheptulose.

Abstract The authors have worked out a method for colorimetric determination of sedoheptulose in plant tissue. The method is based on the reaction with orcinol and hydrochloric acid (modified BIALs reagent).