Differences Between Lignin-like Polymers Formed by Peroxidation of Eugenol and Ferulic Acid in Leaf Sections of Phleum

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Abstract
The lignin-like polymers produced by peroxidase activity of tissue sections in the presence of phenolic compounds and H2O2 have been restudied by means of improved analytical methods which show qualitative and quantitative differences between the products of this oxidative polymerization. Lignin analyses were based on the extraction of the lignin in 0.5 [image] NaOH followed by an estimate of the free phenolic groups by the quinonemonochlorimide method, and a study of the ionization difference spectra of these crude lignin extracts. While freshly- distilled eugenol still produced a lignin-like polymer, the amounts were small and a major product giving a positive phloroglucinol test was insoluble in alkali; aged eugenol gave a larger reaction, especially in the alkali insoluble form. Ferulic acid produced a very large amount of a lignin-like polymer soluble in alkali similar to that found in timothy hay, indicating that ferulic acid is a more natural precursor of lignin in timothy than is eugenol.

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