12 LYCOPHYLL 213 



Optical activity: Natural and partially synthetic chrysanthemaxanthin have 

 the same optical activity^^". [a]l° = +180-190° (in benzene). 



Partition test: Chrysanthemaxanthin is entirely hypophasic in character. 



Chromatographic behaviour: Chrysanthemaxanthin is easily adsorbed on 

 zinc carbonate (or calcium carbonate) from benzene solution. It is found below 

 flavoxanthin but above xanthophyll epoxide on the chromatogram. 



Colour reactions: With concentrated sulphuric acid, chrysanthemaxanthin 

 gives a dark blue colouration. In contrast to flavoxanthin, concentrated hydro- 

 chloric acid produces no blue colouration. 



Detection and estimation: Chrysanthemaxanthin is separated from other 

 phytoxanthins by adsorption on zinc carbonate and can be identified by the 

 determination of the absorption maxima and by the lack of colour reaction 

 with hydrochloric acid. 



Physiological behaviour: Chrysanthemaxanthin exhibits no vitamin A 

 activity. 



12. LYCOPHYLL C40H56O2 



History and Occurrence 



1936 Zechmeister and von Cholnoky isolate lycophyll from Solanum dulca- 

 mara and also establish the occurrence of the new phytoxanthin in 

 Solanum esculentum^^^. 



Preparation 



17 Kg of fresh berries of Solanum dulcamara were dehydrated with ethanol and 

 extracted at room temperature with peroxide-free ether. After removal of the 

 solvent by distillation, the residue was dissolved in benzene and the mixture of 

 pigments was adsorbed on calcium hydroxide. The adsorption was repeated several 

 times and the pigment was finally crystallised from a mixture of benzene and 

 methanol. The yield was 9 mg of lycophyll. 



Chemical Constitution 

 CH, CH, CH, CH, 



C CH3 CH3 CH3 CH, C, 



y I I I I \ 



CH CHCH=CH-C=CHCH = CH-C=CHCH=CHCH=C-CH=CHCH=C-CH=CH-CH CH 



HOCH C-CHg HaC-C CHOH 



\ / Lycophyll \ / 



CH2 CHa 



References p. 214— 21 y. 



