A SIMPLIFIED ENZYMIC METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF (1→3) (1→4)-β-GLUCANS IN BARLEY

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Abstract
A rapid simplified procedure for the enzymic determination of β-glucans is described. In this method a small sample of ground barley (0·25 g) is heated in 80% ethanol to inactivate enzymes, the β-glucan is hydrolysed by incubation for 1 h with a high concentration of purified β-glucanase and the reducing sugars produced are determined by reaction with p-hydroxybenzoic acid hydrazide. The method was calibrated using β-glucan isolated from barley and the enzymic hydrolysis was shown to be both specific and complete.