Compositae , inulin

Di-D-fructose dianhydrides have also been isolated" from commercial chicory, which is used as an additive for coffee or in coffee substitutes. Chicory is obtained by roasting the roots of chicory (Cichorium sp.), a member of the Compositae, which contains inulin (in its roots) as a storage polysaccharide. 

Polysaccharides that exclusively contain D-fructose are known as fructans and there are two known kinds, inulin and levan. Inulin is a polysaccharide containing -D-fructofuranose linked (2 1) [118]. Inulins are found in the roots and tubers of the family of plants known as the Compositae, which includes asters, dandelions, dahlias, cosmos, burdock, goldenrod, chicory, lettuce, and Jerusalem artichokes. Other sources are from the Liliacae family, which includes lily bulbs, onion, hyacinth, and tulip bulbs. Inulins are also produced by certain species of algae [119]. Several bacterial strains of Streptococcus mutans also produce an extracellular inulin from sucrose [120]. 

Fructans occur naturally, are predominantly found in plants, fungi, and are produced extra-cellularly by bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans [13]. Plants are the most likely source of inulin for the production of material to be incorporated into foodstuffs due to its abundance in plants and also from a safety perspective. Inulin is found in the tubers and roots of the plant family Compositae which includes aster, dandelion, dahlias, comos, burdock, goldenrod, chicory, lettuce, and Jerusalem artichoke [14,15]. Van Loo et al. [16] identified the quantity of inulin in various plants as well as their degree of polymerization (O Table 3). An extensive review of occurrence and distribution of fructans in nature is provided [16,17,18]. 

Inulin is a naturally occurring plant polysaccharide and is one of the major constituents of the Compositae family. Inulin is recommended to diabetics, as it has a mild sweet taste, but is not absorbed and does not affect blood sugar levels. It is used widely in the food industry as a sweetener and stabilizer. 

Eupatorium, Boneset thorough wort- Flowering tops and dried leaves of Eupatorium perfoliatum L.. Compositae. Habit. Canada to Florida and west to Texas and Nebraska. Constit. Eupatorin, volatile oil, resin, tannin, sugar, inulin, wax. 

Inula. Elecampane scabwort elfwort horseheal. Dried rhizome and toots of Inula helenium L., Compositae. Habit Central Asia, Europe naturalized in U.S. Constii Inulin, volatile oil, alantol, helenin. atomic acid, acrid resin. 

Inulin, Dahlin alantin alant starch. Mol wt approx 5000. Polysaccharide of Compositae which partially or completely replaces starch as a reserve food. Isoln from dahlia tubers McDonald, "Polyfructosans and Difructose Anhydrides" in Advan. Carbohyd. Chem. vol. 2, 254 (1946) from Jerusalem artichoke tubers Bacon, Edelman, Biochem. J. 48, 114 (1951). Structure E. G. V. Percival. Structural Carbohydrate Chemistry (J. Garnet Miller, London, 2nd ed., 1962) p 274. 

Lappa. Burdock clotbur bardana. Dried first-year root of Arctium lappa L., or of Arctium minus Bemh., Compositae. Habit. Europa, Northern Asia naturalized in N- America. Constit. Volatile oil, bitter principle, inulin, tannin. 

Taraxacum. Dandelion lion s tooth. Dried [hi -zome and roots of Taraxacum palustre (Lyons) Lam. DC. (T. officinale Weber, Leontodon taraxacum L.), Compositae. Habit. Europe naturalized in North America. Constit. Taraxerol, choline, levulin, inulin, pectin. 

The synthesis of inulin has been studied in various of the Compositae nd it serves as a model of the general mechanism that applies, mutatis mutandis, with all plant fractans (Figure 5.16). 

Starch occurs widely as a storage carbohydrate and is present in large amounts in some root and tuber vegetables. In Compositae (e. g., artichoke, viper s grass, bot. Scorzonera), inulin, rather than starch, is the storge carbohydrate. 

The most important compound is inulin, which occurs as reserve material, particularly in Compositae. It consists of a chain of 32-34 fructose units which are linked to each other through jS-glycosidic 1-2 linkages. Fructose is present in the form of a fructofuranose. At one end of the molecule there is a sucrose unit. The biosynthesis of inulin proceeds by the attachment of fructose units, one after the other, to the sucrose molecule. The fructose donor is presumably a sugar nucleotide, probably UDP-fructose. The presence of UDP-fructose in the inulin-con-taining bulbs of dahlias is consistent with this supposition. Thus, our... 

The species of the order Dasycladales also have a (3-fructosan (polymer of fructose, bound in ip and 2) related to inulin, which is present in several terrestrial plants of the family Compositae. 

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