The composition and dissolution of phytobezoars.

The plant fiber content (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and tannins) in phytobezoars was determined. Phytobezoars were found to have a high concentration of polymerized tannins composed mainly of leucoanthocyanins and catechins. Unripe fruit was found to have a high concentration of the tannin monomers. It is concluded that the formation of phytobezoars is due to the polymerization of these tannin monomers. On the ingestion of unripe fruit, the hydrochloric acid of the stomach initiates the polymerization, resulting in a tannin-cellulose-hemicellulose-protein complex. This complex disintegrated in a crude preparation of cellulase. Cellulase is a simple and effective method of treating human gastric phytobezoars.