Polyphenolic substances were extracted with ethanol from the immature fruit of Satsuma mandarin (
Citrus unshiu Marc.). The extract was fractionated into two lead precipitate fractions (F-I and F-II) and mother liquor fraction (F-III) by the reaction with lead acetate. F-I and F-II were obtained, respectively, under acidic and basic conditions. F-II was further separated into two fractions (F-II
A and F-II
B) by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The polyphenolic substances responsible for the enzymatic browning were found in F-I and F-II
B. Absorption spectra and difference spectra of F-I and F-II
B were measured during the browning reaction by polyphenol oxidase of the immature fruit. These spectral profiles of the two fractions resembled closely those of chlorogenic acid. By the hydrolysis of F-I and F-II
B, caffeic acid and quinic acid were found as constituent of the polyphenolic substances. Two polyphenols (S
1 and S
2) associated with the enzymatic browning were detected in both F-I and F-II
B by two dimensional paper chromatography. The absorption spectra and color reactions of S
1 and S
2 were in good agreement with those of chlorogenic acid, although their R
f values were different from the values of chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid and neochlorogenic acid. F-III containing phlorin was not oxidized by the polyphenol oxidase. From the above results, it was suggested that both S
1 and S
2, which were unknown chlorogenic acid analogues, play the most important role in the enzymatic browing of the immature fruit of Satsuma mandarin.
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