The nitrogenous constituents of the japanese arrow-root plant “Kuzu” have been studied with the following results.
1) A protein was obtained from the alkaline alcohol extract of the sample by neutralizing with dilute hydrochloric acid. It contains 14.2% of nitrogen. Its distribution of nitrogen is as follows: Arginine N 8.80%, Cystine N 0.14/, Histidine N 4.63%, Lysine N 2.00% and N of Mono-amino acid 48.149% in total nitrogen.
2) The filtrate obtained from the precipitate produced by adding dilute hydrochloric acid to the alkaline alcohol extract of the sample was further examined, and two bases, two amino acids and one fatty acid were obtained.
Those are adenin, a base yielding a chlo: aerate melting at 117-118°C, asparagin, glutamic acid and butyric acid.
3) An unknown crystalline nitrogenous substance, melting at 185-187°C, was obtained. But the amount was too small to permit of identification.

View full abstract