ABSTRACT
Phytate discovery is believed to have its beginnings in 1855-1856 when Hartwig first isolated small particles, nonstarch grains, from several plant seeds. He suggested that these small particles to be a source of reserve nutrients for seed germination and plant growth (1). Subsequent studies [1872-1896] on the chemical composition of the particles by Pfeffer, Palladin, Schulze, and Winterstein established the “inosite-phosphoric acid” nature of the particles. Extensive studies that ensued over the next two decades resulted in several suggestions for the structure of the molecule. Anderson (2) finally determined the precise structure of phytic acid [Figure 95.1]. The currently accepted name of phytic acid is myo-inositol 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 hexakis dihydrogen phosphate or myo-inositol hexakisphosphate. Salts of phytic acid are referred to as “phytate(s).” In seeds, K, Na, Ca, Zn, Fe, Cu and Mg are the most frequently encountered cations in naturally occurring seed phytates. In this chapter we will use the term phytate to describe both acid and salt forms. A detailed account of the historical background of phytic acid and deduction of its chemical structure has been described earlier (3-5). Although much of the early work centered around naturally occurring seed and grain phytic acid and phytates, presence of phytic acid in avian erythrocytes (6), several vertebrates (7), domestic fowl (8), as well as soil (9, 10) has been reported. For a more detailed account of occurrence of phytates, please refer to Reddy (5).
