Unsaponifiable constituents of liver; ubiquinone and substance SC in various species

Abstract

Liver tissue saponified in the presence of pyrogallol yields unsaponifiable matter of which ubiquinone is a normal constituent. The cholesterol which crystallizes from a methanolic solution of the unsaponifiable matter carries with it ubiquinone and substance SC. Addition of cholesterol to the mother liquor leads to a 2d crop of crystals carrying more of the above. Vitamin A remains in the methanol-soluble fraction. Chro-matography on alumina allows the separation of ubiquinone from the cholesterol. Acetylation of the sterol fraction followed by chromatog-raphy allows the separation of substance SC. Ubiquinone has been found in normal liver of 10 mammalian species in amounts from 10 to 40 fig/g. Pullet liver was richer. Substance SC was not often detected and then only in very small quantities.