Low molecular weight carbohydrates from leguminous seeds; a new disaccharide: Galactopinitol

Twelve mature leguminous seed crops were extracted with 70% ethanol, and their low molecular weight carbohydrates estimated by gas chromatography. Pinitol (3‐ O ‐methyl‐D‐chiro‐inositol) and three isomers of a new disaccharide, α‐D‐galactopyranosyl‐pinitol, for which the name galactopinitol is proposed, were isolated from soya beans ( Glycine max ). Pinitol and galactopinitol were also identified in chick peas ( Cicer arietinum L.), lentils ( Lens esculenta ) and beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Their amounts ranged from 0.2 to 0.9% and 0.03 to 0.8% of dry weight respectively. The possible role of galactopinitol in biosynthesis of the sugars of the raffinose family and in flatulence is discussed.