Occurrence of Gentisic Acid in Plant Tissues

Abstract

IN the course of chromatographic studies on the phenolic constituents of Theobroma cacao L., an ultra-violet fluorescent compound (compound A), possessing an R _F value of 0.28 in benzene/acetic acid/water, was shown to be widely distributed throughout the tissues of the plant¹. This compound has now been shown to possess chromatographic and ultra-violet fluorescence properties identical with those of gentisic acid (2 : 5 dihydroxy benzoic acid). Chromatographic examination of a large number of leaf hydrolysates has revealed that gentisic acid is widely distributed in the plant kingdom, and it would appear to be one of the most commonly occurring aromatic acids of plant tissue. This acid, although usually present in very small or trace quantities, can readily be detected by the chromatographic technique described. The presence of other fluorescent aromatic acids, namely, caffeic, ferulic and sinapic acids in leaf hydrolysates has recently been reported².