Hexitols in coconut milk: Their role in nurture of dividing cells

Kinin Activity From Plant Extracts II. Partial Purification and Fractionation of Kinins in Apple Extract

“…The main difference is in the correlation of kinin activity with ultraviolet-absorbing material in extracts of maize and this correlation the present authors have been unable to achieve with apple extract. Pollard, Shantz, and Steward (1961) have given some details of the methods used for their purification of the coconut-milk kinin. Whole coconut milk was passed through a column of activated carbon, which was eluted first with acetic acid and, after a water wash, with ammonium hydroxide.…”

Kinin Activity From Plant Extracts

“…To obtain maximum activity, approaching that of the original coconut milk, all components must be present, but each component appears capable of stimulating growth in some samples of carrot tissue. Cell division in tobacco pith is unaffected by the addition of casein hydrolysate, which can substitute for the reduced nitrogen component of coconut mille Nor is it stimulated by additions of sorbitol or inositol which are major constituents of the polyol component of coconut milk (Pollard, Shantz, and Steward 1961). These substances are therefore not necessary components of the basal medium for the exhibition of maximum activity in tobacco pith, nor can they induce or stimulate cell division when present in a plant extract.…”

“…Steward and co-workers (Pollard, Shantz, and Steward 1961) now recognize an auxin requirement for the growth of carrot tissue, and IAA, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2-benzthiazoleoxyacetic acid, and a compound of IM and arabinose have, at different times, been shown to stimulate such growth. Some naturally occurring polyphenols such as chlorogenic acid and leucoanthocyanin-like compounds (Steward and Shantz 1959) stimulate growth of the carrot tissue, and substances in this class have recently been proposed as co-factors in the control of auxin levels in tissues (Wada 1961;Furuya, Galston, and Stowe 1962;Mumford, Smith, and Castle 1962)_ In the tobacco pith assay, auxin is provided in the medium.…”

“…The portion of the growth regulator component of coconut milk which is not auxin (Pollard, Shantz, and Steward 1961) corresponds most closely with kinins in apple extracts; its nature is unknown. Kinin activity apparently similar to that detected in apple extracts has been found by other workers.…”

“…Steward and his colleagues (Steward and Shantz 1959;Pollard, Shantz, and Steward 1961;Steward 1961) have investigated the impressive activity of coconut milk in stimulating the growth of isolated carrot root phloem tissues. The total activity of coconut milk is considered to be due to a reduced nitrogen component, a polyol component, and growth regulator components.…”