Quebrachitol
Encyclopedia
Quebrachitol is a naturally occurring optically active cyclitol
, a cyclic polyol
. It can be found in Allophylus edulis
and in the serum left after the coagulation of the Hevea brasiliensis latex. It is also found in Cannabis sativa
and in seabuckthorn.
It was first isolated by Tanret
in 1887 from the bark of Aspidosperma quebracho. The substance was tested as a sweetening agent for diabetics in 1933. It shows a sweetening property half of that of sucrose but induces colic or diarrhoea at concentration used to render the food palatable.
Quebrachitol is a versatile building block in the construction of naturally occurring bioactive materials. For example, its conversion into antifungal (E)-β-methoxyacrylate, oudemansin X has been made.
Cyclitol
Cyclitols are cycloalkanes containing one hydroxyl group on three or more ring atoms. They are cyclic polyols. Cyclitols are one of the compatible solutes which are formed in a plant as a response to salt or water stress...
, a cyclic polyol
Polyol
A polyol is an alcohol containing multiple hydroxyl groups. In two technological disciplines the term "polyol" has a special meaning: food science and polymer chemistry.- Polyols in food science :...
. It can be found in Allophylus edulis
Allophylus edulis
Allophylus edulis is a plant species in the genus Allophylus endemic to the Guianas, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay.Quebrachitol is a cyclitol, a cyclic polyol found in A. edulis....
and in the serum left after the coagulation of the Hevea brasiliensis latex. It is also found in Cannabis sativa
Cannabis sativa
Cannabis sativa is an annual herbaceous plant in the Cannabaceae family. Humans have cultivated this herb throughout recorded history as a source of industrial fibre, seed oil, food, recreation, spiritual enlightenment and medicine...
and in seabuckthorn.
It was first isolated by Tanret
Charles Joseph Tanret
Charles Joseph Tanret was a French pharmacist and chemist.He notably studied the chemistry of sugars. For instance, he identified quebrachitol in 1887 from the bark of Aspidosperma quebracho.His son Georges was also a pharmacist, specialist of plant chemistry...
in 1887 from the bark of Aspidosperma quebracho. The substance was tested as a sweetening agent for diabetics in 1933. It shows a sweetening property half of that of sucrose but induces colic or diarrhoea at concentration used to render the food palatable.
Quebrachitol is a versatile building block in the construction of naturally occurring bioactive materials. For example, its conversion into antifungal (E)-β-methoxyacrylate, oudemansin X has been made.