Chemical Properties and Behaviour of Polyphenolic Substances in Purple Nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.)

Abstract

Some polyphenolic substances were found in purple nutsedge tubers at both stages, dormant and non-dormant. The polyphenols isolated were primarily catechol tannin of leucocyanidin and leucocyanidin-glucoside. Phenolic acids detected in the hydrolysis of the phenols with HCl or NaOH were p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, vanillic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid and protocatechuric acid.
Determining the distribution of catechol tannin in the whole plants, leucocyanidin was high in the mature tubers, seed heads and rhizomes. In nutsedge tubers, leucocyanidin contents increased at the stages of sprouting and of growth proceeded. There was much hither content of leucocyanidin in immature tubers than in mature tubers.