Identification of polyalcohols from periodate oxidized polysaccharides of Strychnos nux vomica Linn. seeds by Smith degradation method

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A water soluble polysaccharide was extracted from Strychnos nux vomica Linn. seeds on acid hydrolysis with sulphuric acid and obtained hydrolysate on paper chromatography led to the D galactose and D mannose in the molar ratio of 1 : 4 moles. The periodate oxidized see!ds polysaccharide on reduction with sodium borohydride by Smith degradation method followed by acid hydrolysis (H2SO4), which yielded polyalcohols as glycerol, erythritol and thritol in the molar ratio of 1.10 : 4.85 : 0.008 moles on paper chromatogram. The derivatives of polyalcohols were produced from seeds polysaccharide as glycerol tri O p nitrobenzoate and tetra O tosyl erythriotol. The absorbance of polyalcohols were recorded in photoelectrocolorimeter on 540 mμ for glycerol and erythritol.

Polyalcohols; glycerol; erythritol; thritol; Strychnos nux vomica seeds