Studies in the biochemistry of micro-organisms

Abstract

The coloring matters, extracted by light petroleum (B.P. 40-50[degree]), and present, in.several spp. in the A. glaucus series were examined with special reference to the crude red pigments. Rubroglaucin, previously reported by Gould and Raistrick (1934) as occurring in certain spp. in the A. glaucus series, is a mixture of physcion (4,5-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-2-methylanthraquinone) and a hitherto undescribed pigment, erythroglaucin, which is the monomethyl ether of a tetrahydroxymethylanthraquinone. In some of the spp. examined, erythroglaucin and physcion were accompanied by 2 reduction products of physcion, i.e., physcion anthranol A, M.P. 260[degree] and physcion anthranol B, M.P. 181-2[degree]. These anthranols were previously reported by Perkin and Hummel (1894) as being present, along with physcion, in the root-bark of the climbing shrub Ventilago madraspatana.