Abstract:

In this study, we investigated the possibility of producing rare sugar alcohols from Itea virginica leaves. Hot
water was used to extract rare sugars/sugar alcohols from the leaves of this plant. It was showed that the extract of leaves
contained 27.86% D-psicose and 7.86% allitol. The rare sugars in the extract were transformed by the resting cells of
Klebsiella oxytoca. After 60 h reaction, 86% of D-psicose was converted into allitol, while the rest was consumed by
cellular metabolism. Flocculation, ion exchange resin chromatography and ethanol crystallization were used to analyze the
conversion products. Finally, the purified rare sugar alcohol was identified as allitol by 13CNMR.

Key words: Itea virginica, rare sugar alcohol, purification, biotransformation