LOW-MOLECULAR WEIGHT CARBOHYDRATES FROM LEGUMINOUS SEEDS - NEW DISACCHARIDE - GALACTOPINITOL

Twelve mature leguminous seed crops were extracted with 70% ethanol, and their low molecular weight carbohydrates estimated by gas chromatography. Pinitol (3‐O‐methyl‐D‐chiro‐inositol) and three isomers of a new disaccharide, α‐D‐galactopyranosyl‐pinitol, for which the name galactopinitol is proposed, were isolated from soya beans (Glycine max). Pinitol and galactopinitol were also identified in chick peas (Cicer arietinum L.), lentils (Lens esculenta) and beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Their amounts ranged from 0.2 to 0.9% and 0.03 to 0.8% of dry weight respectively. The possible role of galactopinitol in biosynthesis of the sugars of the raffinose family and in flatulence is discussed. Copyright © 1978 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd