Aesculin
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Names | |
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IUPAC name
7-hydroxy-6-{[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy- 6-(hydroxymethyl)-2-tetrahydropyranyl]oxy}-2-chromenone
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Other names
Esculetin 6-β-D-glucoside
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Identifiers | |
531-75-9 ![]() |
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ChEMBL | ChEMBL482581 ![]() |
ChemSpider | 4444765 ![]() |
Jmol 3D model | Interactive image |
PubChem | 5281417 |
UNII | 1Y1L18LQAF ![]() |
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Properties | |
C15H16O9 | |
Molar mass | 340.282 g/mol |
Vapor pressure | {{{value}}} |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references | |
Aesculin, also rendered Æsculin or Esculin, is a coumarin glucoside that naturally occurs in the horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum),[1] California Buckeye (Aesculus californica),[2] Prickly Box (Bursaria spinosa) and in daphnin (the dark green resin of Daphne mezereum). It is also found in dandelion coffee.
Medical uses
Aesculin is used in a microbiology laboratory to aid in the identification of bacterial species (especially Enterococci and Listeria). In fact, all strains of Group D Streptococci hydrolyze æsculin in 40% bile.
Aesculin hydrolysis test
Aesculin is incorporated into agar with ferric citrate and bile salts (bile aesculin agar).[3] Hydrolysis of the aesculin forms aesculetin (6,7-dihydroxycoumarin) and glucose. The aesculetin forms dark brown or black complexes with ferric citrate, allowing the test to be read.
The bile aesculin agar is streaked and incubated at 37 °C for 24 hours. The presence of a dark brown or black halo indicates that the test is positive. A positive test can occur with Enterococcus, Aerococcus and Leuconostoc. Aesculin will fluoresce under long wave ultraviolet light (360 nm): hydrolysis of aesculin results in loss of this fluorescence.
Enterococcus will often flag positive within four hours of the agar being inoculated.
Line notes
References
- Plant poisons: Aesculin
- National Standard Methods MSOP 48 (Bile aesculin agar) and BSOPTP 2 (Aesculin hydrolysis test (UK)).
- C. Michael Hogan (2008) California Buckeye: Aesculus californica, GlobalTwitcher.com, N. Stromberg ed.