Abstract

Moniliform fruit pods from India were extracted with cold water. The aqueous solution was continuously extracted with ethyl acetate at 35°, and this extract was shown by paper chromatography to consist of ten polyphenols. Three of these have been identified as gallic acid, m-digallic acid, and (+)-catechin. Catechin has not previously been isolated from Acacia arabica pods. Three other components have been isolated in a chromatographically homogeneous state, two of which are galloylated flavanoids. These results differ from published work on pods from Egypt, indicating possible taxonomic value. This is emphasised by the discovery of an extra polyphenol in extracts of non-moniliform pods from India. The extra component is probably a galloylated flavan-3,4-diol.