Alkaline degradation of inulin and its structural implications.

Alkaline degradation of inulin under controlled conditions shows that not all molecules in an inulin preparation are nonreducing and, thus, alkali-stable and suitable for clinical measurements. Reducing “inulin” molecules are degraded by the normal betaalkoxy carbonyl mechanism, and the main product of degradation in calcium hydroxide solution is “c ”-D-glucosaccharinic acid. An inulin preparation can be made alkalistable by sodium borohydride reduction. There appears to be a difference in the alkali lability of inulin and other fructan preparations obtained from different sources.