Pinitol Content Research Articles

Distribution of isoflavone and pinitol content in different parts of Serica lespedeza

Isoflavone is an important functional component that is associated with human health benefits such as the decreased risk of heart disease, menopausal symptoms, cardiovascular disease, and bone resorption as well as breast, prostate, and colon cancers. Pinitol (also referred to as D-Pinitol) is a type of sugar and classified as a chiro-inositol (sugar alcohol), has been demonstrated to exert insulin-like, anti-inflammatory and a hypoglycemic effect (to reduce blood sugar level). Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) species were collected from the different parts of Korea in the autumn season of 2011 and analyzed the isoflavone and pinitol content of leaves and stems by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). A large variation of isoflavone and pinitol content in the leaves and stems of lespedeza species was observed. The average isoflavone content of leaves and stems were 1,612 and 873 μg/g and ranged from 44 ~ 6,536 and 25 ~ 3,666 μg/g, respectively. Similarly, the average pinitol content of leaves and stems were 15,195 and 9,104 μg/g and ranged from 5,049 ~ 35,289 and 1284 ~ 27,185 μg/g, respectively. Both isoflavone and pinitol content in the leaves were significantly higher than in the stems. Leaves of sericea lespedeza showed unexpectedly higher isoflavone and pinitol. The average isoflavone content in leaves and stems among nine provinces were also significantly different. The highest isoflavone content in leaves (6,536 μg/g) and stems (3,666 μg/g) were measured in the samples collected from Chungcheongnam and Gangwon provinces, respectively. Similarly, the highest pinitol content in the leaves (35,289 μg/g) and stems (27,185 μg/g) were measured in the samples collected from Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces, respectively. The genotypes with high isoflavone and pinitol content especially in the leaves of this medicinal herb could be used as elite genetic resources for food industries to make quality functional food products as well as medicines especially for diabetes.

Simultaneous RP-HPLC-PDA-RI separation and quantification of pinitol content in Sesbania bispinosa vis-à-vis harvesting age

Sesbania bispinosa belongs to the family Fabaceae contains appreciable percentage of antidiabetic cyclitol known as (+)-pinitol. A rapid high-performance liquid chromatography method has been developed for estimating the pinitol content in methanol extracts of S. bispinosa (roots, stems, leaves, flowers and pods) with respect to its harvesting age. Chromatographic separation was carried out on XBridge Amide column (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 3.5 μm coating) using isocratic elution of solvent system comprising water: acetonitrile (80:20) and water: acetonitrile (30:70) with 0.2% triethylamine at 30°C. The RP-HPLC-PDA-RI and LC-MS/MS analyses have shown significant variations of pinitol content in roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and pods extracts of S. bispinosa with respect to a particular harvesting age. At pre-fruiting stage, the highest percentage of pinitol was detected in all the parts of the plant extracts (roots: 2.72%, stems: 2.81%, leaves: 2.32% and pods: 3.92%). Therefore, it is recommended to harvest the plant at pre-fruiting stage for getting highest amounts (0.16%) of total pinitol. As a result, the pinitol content might be employed as a reference marker to decide the harvesting age of S. bispinosa.

Exogenous nitric oxide-induced germination associated with pinitol content in Hymenaea courbaril low vigour seeds

Nitric oxide (NO), a membrane-permeable free radical, has been reported as a potent signalling molecule in animals and plants. It is commonly accepted that NO induces dormancy release and promotes seed germination. However, few studies were carried out with seeds of tropical arboreal species, which present distinct characteristics compared to temperate model seeds, in order to confirm a broad role of NO in seed germination. To our knowledge, this is the first work to investigate the role of exogenous NO on the germination of seeds accumulating cell wall polysaccharides as the main carbon reserve. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of NO donors on germination and primary metabolism of seeds from Hymenaea courbaril L., a leguminous tree species from Neotropical rainforests. Seeds with distinct vigour rates, namely lower vigour seeds (LVS) and higher vigour seeds (HVS), were imbibed in distilled water (control) and NO donor solutions, and selected parameters such as germination rate and normal seedlings, root growth, and metabolic profile were evaluated. Our results show that NO donors reduced the average time of germination and improved normal seedling development of LVS, without affecting the final germination rate. This treatment also induced changes in the relative proportion of soluble sugars and cyclitols identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. Taken together, our data suggest that exposure to the NO donor partially revert deterioration on naturally ageing seeds, possibly through the modulation of pinitol content, and open new perspectives to enhance the existing knowledge on the role of NO on seed viability.

발아시 수침 및 염 스트레스에 따른 발아 검정콩의 품질특성

This study investigated the effects of the steeping condition and salinity stress on the quality properties of germinated black soybean. The absorbed water content increased drastically in six hours with the increase in the steeping time and the temperature. The pH decreased as the steeping temperature increased. A gradual increase in the dissolution of the anthocyanin was observed with the steeping time. The adequate steeping conditions were found to have been six hours at 25ºC, which showed the needed absorbed water content within a short time. The germination percentage of the black soybeans decreased with the increase in the NaCl concentration. The pinitol and total phenolics contents showed the highest values under the concentrations of 0.7% and 0.3-0.5% NaCl, respectively. The flavonoid content was highest at the 0.1% NaCl concentration. Consequently, the salinity stress during the germination of the black soybeans enhanced the pinitol content and lowered the blood sugar, which gives it an advantage as a functional food material.

국내 수집 두과식물의 부위별 pinitol 함량 변이

본 연구에서는 경상북도 일원에서 수집한 자귀나부(Albizia julibrissin)를 포함한 두과식물 17종에서 인체의 혈당저하제의 원료로 사용되는 pinitol 함량을 식물체 부위별로 조사하였는 바, 결과를 요약하면 아래와 같다. 1. 수집한 17개 두과식물 종간에는 pinitol 함량에서 유의적인 차이가 인정되었으며, 종별 총 pinitol 함량에서는 비수리(Lespedeza cuneata)가 가장 높은 값을 보였다. 식물체 부위별로 pinitol 함량을 살펴보면 대체적으로 잎, 줄기, 꼬투리, 종자, 뿌리의 순으로 많았다. 2. 잎에서 비교적 많은 pinitol 함량을 보인 식물은 골담초, 족제비싸리, 돌동부 및 비수리로 각각 59.9 mg/g, 62.2 mg/g, 69.6 mg/g, 65.4 mg/g으로 약 60 mg/g이상을 나타내었고, 줄기의 경우는 황기가 34.0 mg/g으로 비교적 높게 나타났으며, 뿌리에서는 칡이 24.6 mg/g으로 가장 높았으며, 감초와 골담초가 16.9 mg/g, 16.5 mg/g으로 그 다음으로 높았다. 그러나 꼬투리나 종자에서는 제비콩(52.5 mg/g)과 비수리(24.9 mg/g)를 제외하고 pinitol 함량은 잎이나 줄기에 비해 모든 조사식물에서 상대적으로 낮았다. 3. 조사대상 식물체의 pinitol 함량과 수확 가능한 식물체량을 고려할 때, 실제 약용으로 이용 가능성이 가장 높은 식물은 비수리이었다. 비수리의 경우 전국적인 수집을 통해 pinitol 함량이 높은 계통을 선발한다면 이용가능성 이 높은 pinitol 추출용 계통의 선발이나 보다 이용가치가 높은 새로운 품종의 육성도 가능할 것으로 생각된다. This study was designed to investigate variation of pinitol content in different parts of seventeen legume species including silk tree (Albizia julibrissin). D-pinitol has been demonstrated to exert insulin-like and anti-inflammatory effects. These legumes were collected from Gyeongsangbuk-Do in Korea. Significant difference in pinitol content was observed among 17 different legume species. However, it was the highest in sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata). The highest pinitol content was observed in leaf followed by stem, pod shell, seed and root among plant parts. Legume plants which had higher pinitol content in leaves were chinese pea shrub, bastard indigo, wild cowpea and sericea lespedeza, having 59.9 mg/g, 62.2 mg/g, 69.6 mg/g and 65.4 mg/g, respectively. Stem of astragali radix showed the highest pinitol content among all leagumes, which was 34.0 mg/g. In case of root, kudzuvine showed the highest pinitol content followed by licorice and chinese pea shrub, which were 24.6 mg/g, 16.9 mg/g, and 16.5 mg/g, respectively. However, in the case of pod shell and seed, only lablab purpureus and sericea lespedeza showed the highest pinitol content 52.5 mg/g (for pod shell) and 24.9 mg/g (for seed), respectively. Concluding, the sericea lespedeza showed the highest total pinitol content of whole plant followed by chinese redbud, chinese pea shrub, bastard indigo and silk tree. Considering the pinitol content and harvesting yield, sericea lespedeza can be used as a practical medicinal herb.

Effects of Light Intensity, Number of Florets, and Water Stress on Quality and Soluble Carbohydrate Contents of Potted Carnation

The indoor display life of potted carnations ‘Annemarie’ is limited to 12 days because of its low flowering ability under low-light conditions (15 μmol·m−2·s−1 PPFD, 20°C). When commercially grown potted carnations were transferred to indoor (low-light) conditions, dry weight and total soluble carbohydrates (TSC) decreased during the first 6 days after transfer (DAT), remained constant until 10 DAT, and then increased at 14 DAT. Glucose, fructose, and sucrose contents decreased markedly during the first 6 DAT and then gradually decreased. Pinitol content was unchanged until 10 DAT and then slightly increased at 14 DAT. After 30 days in indoor conditions, the concentrations of fructose, glucose, and sucrose in leaves declined to barely detectable levels, while the pinitol content was unchanged. By the end of 30 days, pinitol accounted for 79% of TSC. In another experiment, potted carnations were grown under water-stress conditions (0.21 m3 water/m3 soil) for 14 days. Compared with plants grown under ample water conditions (0.41 m3water/m3 soil), water-stressed plants showed lower water potential and increased the contents of pinitol, glucose, and TSC in the leaves; however, the differences in water potential and soluble carbohydrate level disappeared after plants were supplied with ample water. To optimize flowering, we thinned the number of florets to 20, 50, or 80 per plant. Compared with plants with 50 or 80 florets, plants with 20 florets per plant showed higher chlorophyll fluorescence ratio (Fv/Fm) in their leaves and had more flowers per plant. In addition, we evaluated the effects of low-light conditions (15 μmol·m−2·s−1) and high-light conditions (alternate cycles of 15 μmol·m−2·s−1 for 2 days and 150 μmol·m−2·s−1 for 1 day) on flowering. At 20 DAT, flowers in the high-light treatment showed higher TSC than those in the low-light treatment; however, levels of pinitol were significantly higher in plants grown under low-light conditions. These results suggested that thinning flower buds and growing plants under high-light conditions could alleviate the carbohydrate shortage that occurs in indoor conditions, and could improve the quality and display life of potted carnations. We discuss the roles of pinitol in carnation plants under stress conditions.

Application of Derivatization Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry for the Identification and Quantitation of Pinitol in Plant Roots

Pinitol (D-3-O-methyl-chiro-inositol), a cyclitol, has a variety of roles in plant biology, and is being used as a nutritional supplement. These applications increase the importance of finding new methods for determining the pinitol content in plant tissues. A reliable method for the identification and quantitation of pinitol using trimethylsilyl imidazole (TMSI) derivatization and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was developed. One major ion fragment, m/z 260, was used to quantify pinitol in three plant species. Soybeans contained approximately 1.9 mg/g wet weight pinitol while levels in sugar beets and snap beans were below detection limits.

Accumulation of pinitol and other soluble sugars in water‐stressed phyllodes of tropical Acacia auriculiformis in northern Australia

The effect of water stress on leaf sugars and photosynthesis was examined in clones of Acacia auriculiformis in Darwin, northern Australia. Compared with the wet season or irrigated or watered‐site plants, phyllodes of plants grown in the dry season on unirrigated or water‐stressed sites had significantly higher contents of pinitol and total sugars. The pinitol content constituted 50% of the phyllode total sugars content compared with 17% for fructose, 20% for glucose, and <10% for sucrose. Field‐grown A. auriculiformis accumulated more pinitol but less sucrose than seedlings grown in the shade‐house. Under water‐stress conditions, phyllode total sugars decreased 15% in seedlings but increased 30% in trees in the field. These differences probably reflect the different developmental stages and different light levels between seedlings and trees. Thus, the contents of different sugars may be involved in osmotic adjustment during water stress in A. auriculiformis.

Reducing properties, energy efficiency and carbohydrate metabolism in hyperhydric and normal carnation shoots cultured in vitro: a hypoxia stress?

Hyperhydricity is considered as a physiological disorder that can be induced by different stressing conditions. In the present work we have studied the metabolic and energetic states of hyperhydric carnation shoots. We have evaluated the hypothesis that hypoxia stress is the main factor affecting the metabolism of hyperhydric leaves. Our results indicate a low level of ATP in hyperhydric tissues, but only slight modifications in pyridine nucleotide contents. Concurrently, the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH; EC 1.1.1.49) activity in hyperhydric leaves was increased but glucokinase (GK; EC 2.7.1.2) activity was unchanged. We have observed that the metabolism of pyruvate was altered in hyperhydric tissues by the induction of pyruvate synthesis via NADP-dependent malic enzyme (EC 1.1.1.40). The enzymes of the fermentative metabolism pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC; EC 4.1.1.1) and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH; EC 1.1.1.1) were highly increased in hyperhydric leaves. Sucrose metabolism was modified in hyperhydric leaves with a high increase in the activity of both synthesis and catabolic enzymes. The analysis of the sucrose, glucose and fructose contents indicated that all of these sugars were accumulated in hyperhydric leaves. However, the pinitol content was drastically decreased in hyperhydric leaves. We consider that these results suggest that hyperhydric leaves of carnation have adapted to hypoxia stress conditions by the induction of the oxidative pentose phosphate and fermentative pathways.

Irrigation effects on pinitol content of jojoba leaf blades and floral buds

One of the factors limiting jojoba ( Simmondsia chinensis (Link) Schneid.) production in the USA has been frost damage to flower buds. Research indicates that drought can be used to increase the frost tolerance of jojoba. In certain other plants, frost-hardiness is related to an increase in soluble carbohydrates including pinitol. D-Pinitol is also present in jojoba and is a major soluble sugar constituent of its leaves and buds in the fall and winter. In this study we evaluated the influence of irrigation water management, season and clone on pinitol content of jojoba over a 2 year period. The plants studied were from two clones in two irrigation regimes: a wet treatment (WT) that received water biweekly throughout the growing season, and a dry treatment (DT) that received no irrigation water after June to provide fall and winter water stress. Leaf water potential and relative water content were lower in the fall and winter in the DT than in the WT. Water stress did not appear to stimulate pinitol accumulation in jojoba leaves or flower buds. Pinitol content of leaves was highest in the spring and lowest in the summer. There were no consistent differences between clones in pinitol content of tissue.

Identification of pinitol as a main sugar constituent and changes in its content during flower bud development in carnation ( Dianthus caryophyllus L.)

An unknown sugar-like compound other than glucose, fructose, sucrose and myo-inositol was detected in the ethanol extract of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) leaves and isolated using high performance liquid chromatography. The isolated compound was identified as D-(+)-chiro-inositol monomethylether (pinitol) by 1H-NMR and 1C-NMR spectra. Pinitol was the most abundant sugar in the leaf and also was present in stem, petal and the remaining part of flower in large amounts in 4 cultivars tested. In petals, the pinitol content remained constant during flower bud development on a fresh weight basis, but the organ pinitol content increased markedly. The pinitol content was also high in the other parts of the flower. These findings suggest that pinitol, a major sugar constituent, contributes to the bud growth and subsequent petal opening in the carnation together with other metabolic sugars, such as glucose and sucrose.

Effect of water-deficit stress and genotypes on pinitol occurrence in soybean plants

Pinitol (3- O-methyl-D- chiro-inositol) has been found to accumulate significantly in a number of plant species under water-deficit stress, but its importance in soybean ( Glycine max L. Merr.) stress tolerance is not known. It has been hypothesized that an increased pinitol level in the plant may be associated with improved stress tolerance. The objectives of this experiment were to determine the effect of water-deficit stress on pinitol content in soybean plants, and the relationship between pinitol accumulation and plant tolerance to water deficit. Field and controlled environment studies were conducted under well watered and water-stressed conditions with different soybean genotypes. Pinitol content in the plant material was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Water-deficit stress significantly increased pinitol content in soybean leaves and stems in some genotypes. Increase in the pinitol content in response to water deficit differed among soybean genotypes, and those more tolerant to water deficit tended to accumulate more pinitol. The pinitol:sucrose ratio increased with water deficit, indicating that pinitol was preferentially accumulated in response to the stressor. The plant growth regulators, Atonik, PHCA and PGR-IV, did not affect pinitol content in the plant. It was concluded that pinitol was an important stress metabolite in soybean plants, and its accumulation may be related to plant tolerance to water-deficit stress.

Pinitol occurrence in soybean plants as affected by temperature and plant growth regulators

Unsuitable temperatures are frequently encountered by soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) plants grown in the field. Certain polyols have been reported to protect plants from high temperature or frost damage. Controlled environment studies were conducted to investigate the effect of stressful temperature regimes on the content of pinitol (3-O-methyl-D-chiro-inositol) in soybean plants. Hydroponically-grown soybean plants were subjected to high (35/30 o C) or low (15/10 o C) day/night temperature stresses, and pinitol content in different plant parts was determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A synthetic plant growth regulator, PGR-IV, was foliarly applied to the plants to evaluate its effect on pinitol content in different plant components. Uniformlylabelled 14 C-glucose was fed into the leaves via the transpiration stream, and the effects of high temperature and EXP-S1089, another synthetic plant growth regulator, on the incorporation of 14 C-glucose into pinitol was evaluated using HPLC separation and scintillation spectrometry. High-temperature stress significantly increased plant pinitol content and the incorporation of 14 C-glucose into pinitol, but decreased the content of sucrose, glucose and fructose. Under low-temperature stress, there was hardly any change in pinitol content, but a drastic increase in soluble sugars. PGR-IV enhanced pinitol translocation from leaves to stems and roots, while EXP-S1089 increased pinitol/sucrose ratio. Accumulation of pinitol may be an adjustment mechanism of the plant to reduce hightemperature damage, but not low-temperature injuries

Pinitol is a major carbohydrate in leaves of some coastal plants indigenous to New Zealand

Abstract D-pinitol (an O-methyl inositol) is identified as a major soluble carbohydrate in the leaves and other parts of the parapara, Heimerliodendron brunonianum. Leaves of two other members of the Nyctaginaceae, Mirabilis jalapa and Bougainvillea glabra, show the same feature; a high pinitol content may be a family characteristic. Four other native coastal species from three other plant families, Tetragonia trigyna, Disphyma australe, Carmichaelia aligera, and Spergularia marginata, also show pinitol as their major soluble carbohydrate in the leaves, but Euphorbia glauca does not. The possibility that presence of pinitol contributes to the ecological behaviour of these native species, in conferring resistance to salinity stress, is discussed.

Comparison of Microscopic and Pinitol Techniques in Determining Legume Composition of Steer Diets1

AbstractKnowledge of botanical and chemical composition of herbage consumed by grazing livestock is essential in understanding animal performance and improving pasture and animal management. Esophageal fistula samples are considered to best represent cattle (Bos spp.) diets, but current microscopic methods used to determine botanical composition are time consuming, expensive, and may be subject to large operator error. Pinitol (1‐D‐3‐O‐methyl‐chiro‐inositol) has been found unique to the leguminosae family and accurate in determining alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) percentage in greenhousegrown alfalfa‐tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) mixtures (R2 = 0.99). Its utility in estimating the legume composition of esophageally collected grass‐legume samples was compared to that of two widely used microscopic techniques. No significant differences were found between microscopic methods in pasture or hay aftermath of any treatments or dates. Sensitivity analysis showed no differences in the two methods related to their ability to detect dietary legume concentration changes in esophageal samples. Pinitol estimates of legume content were less (P&lt;0.05) than those from microscopic estimates taken from orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) + legume [red clover (Trifolium pratense L..), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus sp.), or alfalfa] pasture and hay aftermath, but not from nearly pure orchardgrass. The three methods provided similar estimates late in the grazing season when all values were low. With few exceptions the pinitol method underestimated legume composition of esophageal samples. In a separate experiment, the pinitol content of alfalfa, red clover, and birdsfoot trefoil extrusa after mastication and salivation was lower than that of unfed samples, suggesting that leaching may have been partially responsible for low estimates of legume composition by the pinitol method