Isolation of six unconjugated pteridines from soybean (Glycin max L. Tsurunoko) seeds.

Six unconjugated pteridines stored in soybean seeds were extracted with acid and isolated with a FLorisil column and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). They were identified by HPLC, TLC, and fluorescence spectra to be 6-carboxypterin, erythro-neopterin, threo-neopterin, isoxanthopterin, 6-hydroxymethylpterin, and pterin. They were eluted in that order on HPLC. A much higher density of the pteridines, excepting isoxanthopterin, was found in the axis than in the cotyledon after a 6-imbibition.