Cyclitols, galactosyl cyclitols and raffinose family oligosaccharides in Mexican wild lupin seeds

Ten to 16 ethanol-soluble carbohydrate components were identified in the seeds of six Mexican wild lupins. The analysed carbohydrates included: monosaccharides, disaccharides, cyclitols, galactosyl cyclitols and raffinose family oligosaccharides. Stachyose and sucrose were the main carbohydrate component in the Lupinus montanus, L. rotundiflorus, L. exaltatus, L. mexicanus and L. elegans seeds. Only trace quantities of verbascose were detected in Lupinus mexicanus seeds. The analysed seeds accumulated 38 to 78 mg/g d.m. carbohydrates. The raffinose family oligosaccharides constituted 41 to 85.2% of the identified carbohydrate component pool. The analysed Lupinus seeds contained 3 to 8 unidentified carbohydrate components.