Citric acid

About: Citric acid is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 17745 publications have been published within this topic receiving 277125 citations. The topic is also known as: citrate & H3cit.

Biosynthesis and root exudation of citric and malic acids in phosphate-starved rape plants

Abstract: summary Rape (Brassica napus L.) plants are efficient users of rock phosphates. This has been ascribed to the excretion of malic and citric acids from the roots during phosphorus deficiency, resulting in a decrease of the pH in the rhizosphere and a consequent solubilization of the rock phosphate. In this paper the biosynthesis and excretion of organic acids were investigated, partly by comparing physiological reactions to P deficiency of rape with those of an inefficient user of rock phosphate from the same family, hedge mustard (Sisymbrium officinale Scop.). In the leaves of both species, both citrate levels and phosphoenolypyruvate carboxylase were nearly doubled in P–deficient plants, and the citrate/sugar ratio in the phloem exudate into EDTA solution was doubled as well. After exposure of the shoots of rape plants to 14CO2 in the light, the specific activities of citrate in the root and in the nutrient solution were ten times higher than those of malate, and also much higher than the respective activities of citrate in P–sufficient controls. It is suggested that citrate produced in the leaf is exported to the roots, where it is accumulated in the excretion region. Malic acid which is prevailing in the exudate is probably newly–synthesized within the excreting root segment. When no phosphate is supplied, this excretion zone is located 1–2 cm behind the root tips. However, when rock phosphate is applied locally this zone shifts along the root to that part which is in direct contact with the rock phosphate particles. No accumulation and excretion of organic acids could be observed with the roots of P–deficient Sisymbrium.

Chemistry and biochemistry of (-)-hydroxycitric acid from Garcinia.

Abstract: (-)-Hydroxycitric acid [(-)-HCA] is the principal acid of fruit rinds of Garcinia cambogia, Garcinia indica, and Garcinia atroviridis. (-)-HCA was shown to be a potent inhibitor of ATP citrate lyase (EC 4.1.3.8), which catalyzes the extramitochondrial cleavage of citrate to oxaloacetate and acetyl-CoA: citrate + ATP + CoA --> acetyl-CoA + ADP + P(i) + oxaloacetate. The inhibition of this reaction limits the availability of acetyl-CoA units required for fatty acid synthesis and lipogenesis during a lipogenic diet, that is, a diet high in carbohydrates. Extensive animal studies indicated that (-)-HCA suppresses the fatty acid synthesis, lipogenesis, food intake, and induced weight loss. In vitro studies revealed the inhibitions of fatty acid synthesis and lipogenesis from various precursors. However, a few clinical studies have shown controversial findings. This review explores the literature on a number of topics: the source of (-)-HCA; the discovery of (-)-HCA; the isolation, stereochemistry, properties, methods of estimation, and derivatives of (-)-HCA; and its biochemistry, which includes inhibition of the citrate cleavage enzyme, effects on fatty acid synthesis and lipogenesis, effects on ketogenesis, other biological effects, possible modes of action on the reduction of food intake, promotion of glycogenesis, gluconeogenesis, and lipid oxidation, (-)-HCA as weight-controlling agent, and some possible concerns about (-)-HCA, which provides a coherent presentation of scattered literature on (-)-HCA and its plausible mechanism of action and is provocative of further research.

INHIBITION of APPLE POLYPHENOLOXIDASE (PPO) BY ASCORBIC ACID, CITRIC ACID and SODIUM CHLORIDE

Abstract: The inhibiting effect of ascorbic acid, citric acid and sodium chloride on Polyphenoloxidase (PPO) of Golden Delicious apple cubes was studied. Dipping in ascorbic acid (0.2-10 g/L range) and in NaCl (0.2-1 g/L range) solutions for 5 min increases the PPO activiry. Citric acid solutions (0.2-10 g/L range) have little or no inhibition of PPO. A 90-100% PPO inhibition was obtained with a 5 min dip in mixtures of ascorbic acid and citric acid (10 + 2 g/L), and of ascorbic acid and sodium chloride (I0 + 0.5 g/L).