Occurrence of Inulin in Plants

The term inulin first appeared in the literature in 1818 (Thomson, 1818), predating the discovery of fructose by about 30 years. It was ascribed to a substance, first isolated from elecampagne (Inula helenium L.) in 1804 (Rose, 1804). Jerusalem artichoke was first recorded as a source of inulin in around 1870. The actual linear structure of the molecule was not elucidated until the 1950s, and the small degree of branching that can occur only in the mid-1990s (De Leenheer and Hoebregs, 1994). As a polymer of fructose, inulin is classified as a fructan of which there are several types 

FIGURE 5.1 Structure of inulin containing a terminal glucopyranose unit (GFn), inulin with a terminal fructoside unit (GFm), and a branched inulin (GF5). 

In addition to its limited role as a storage form of carbon, inulin is thought to be more widely involved in membrane protection during dehydration of many species (Vereyken et al 2003). The interaction of inulin with membrane lipids in a model system was found to be chain length dependent. Inulin-type fructans had a more pronounced interaction with the membrane lipids than 

Both the quantity and quality of inulin in various plant sources are of considerable importance in terms of its utilization. Both Jerusalem artichoke and chicory have inulin contents of 15% on 

Biology and Chemistry of Jerusalem Artichoke Helianthus tuberosus L. 

---