ABSTRACT
The essential oil from guarana [Paullinia cupana H.B.K. var. sorbilis (Mart.) Ducke] was analysed. Nine components were identified, namely (2) methylbenzenes, (1) cyclic monoterpene and (2) cyclic sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, (2) methoxyphenylpropenes and (2) alkylphenol derivatives. The alleged psychoactivity of the essential oil is presumably due to the identified constituents estragole and anethole. Any contribution of aminated metabolites of estragole/anethole to the alleged psychoactivity of the essential oil of guarana can be excluded. Neither the psychoactive 4-methoxyamphetamine nor tert-aminoketones could be traced in human urine after oral application of guarana.
Subject(s)
Oils, Volatile/analysis , Beverages , Chromatography, Thin Layer , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry , Humans , Odorants , Oils, Volatile/chemistry , Oils, Volatile/metabolism , Seeds/chemistry , TasteABSTRACT
The thin-layer chromatographic characterization of phenazine derivatives formed by a subspecies of Pseudomonas fluorescens under iron deficiency conditions in the presence of Al3+ showed that regarding type and quantity they were relatively different from phenazines generated on the basis of Be(2+)-containing culture media or containing neither Be2+ ions nor Al3+ ions. A comparison has shown that bacterial synthesis of phenazine derivatives is stimulated more by Be2+ ions than by Al3+ ions.
Subject(s)
Aluminum/metabolism , Phenazines/metabolism , Pseudomonas fluorescens/growth & development , Chromatography, Thin Layer , Kinetics , Pseudomonas fluorescens/metabolismABSTRACT
We succeeded in isolating biotypes of Pseudomonas fluorescens forming phenazine derivatives exclusively under conditions iron deficiency. A culture medium containing traces of beryllium with glucose as the only carbon source allowed these microorganisms to grow under production of a brilliant red colour. Without beryllium the colonies were brown in colour. Spectroscopic investigations showed the red pigment to be a mixture of di- and trihydroxyphenazine carboxylic acid. UV/VIS measurements of the culture medium indicated the additional presence of ironcomplexing proferro-rosamines.
