13 



SARCININ AND S A RCI N AX ANTHI N 



319 



benzene solution, and is found below antheraxanthin but above zeaxanthin in 

 the chromatogram. 



Colour reactions: On shaking an ethereal solution of petaloxanthin with 

 37 % aqueous hydrochloric acid, a pale blue colouration is observed which 

 eventually changes to violet -blue. 



Detection and estimation: The separation of petaloxanthin from other 

 phytoxanthins is effected by adsorption on calcium carbonate or calcium 

 hydroxide. The pigment can be identified by determining the absorption 

 maxima and by the hydrochloric acid reaction. 



TABLE 55 



COMPARISON OF SOME PROPERTIES OF PETALOXANTHIN AND ANTHERAXANTHIN 



14. SARCININ AND S ARCIN AX ANTHIN 



The pigments of Sarcina lutea were investigated by Chargaff and 

 DiERYCK^^ and by Chargaff^* who isolated a new carotenoid termed sarcinin. 

 The constitution of this pigment is till entirely unknown. It may be a hydro- 

 carbon, but the amount isolated was so small that no conclusive data could 

 be obtained. In petroleum ether solution, sarcinin exhibits absorption maxima 

 at 469, 440 and 415 m//. Besides sarcinin, Sarcina lutea contains another new 

 phytoxanthin which has the same optical properties. 



In 1936, Nakamura^^ isolated from Sarcina lutea a yellow carotenoid which 

 he regarded as a phytoxanthin ester. This pigment exhibits absorption maxima 

 at 490, 460 and 433 m/x in carbon disulphide solution. This carotenoid is 

 References p. 341-343. 



