Abstract:
Palmyrah (Borassus jlabellifer L) fruit pulp was debittered with the
enzyme naringinase, At least three of the 4 natural flabelliferins including
the bitter principle (F-II) and an antimicrobial principle (FIl) were hydrolysed
and two spots (F and F) appeared on TIc_ F was a pure saponin
triglycoside M_W_ 868_ 'Spectrbscopic examination otF, showed it to be an
impure mixture of saponins and steroidts), On separat-ion with MPLC 3
isolates were obtained including a free steroid which corresponded to
srigmast-Sen-Spo l. F, and F" had no bitterness or antibacterial activity and
also had little or no foam stabilizing and haemolytic activity, unlike F-Il
and Ffl' While the properties of F.x were very similar to F(., a natural
flabelliferin (MW 868), F, contained the products of naringinase hydrolysis
of the bitter flabelliferin (F-II) and the antimicrobial flabelliferin (FB).
