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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1970 November; 20(5): 715-719
Copyright © 1970 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Polysaccharide from Dry Navy Beans, Phaseolus vulgaris: Its Isolation and Stimulation of Clostridium perfringens

Western Regional Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Albany, California 94710

ABSTRACT

A microbiological assay is described for determining gas produced by Clostridium perfringens (Veilon and Zuber) Holland from materials believed to be flatulent. A rationale for its use is given and analyzed. The fractionation and the results of the assay for several components of lima beans, Phaseolus lunatus L., and navy beans, P. vulgaris L., are given. In particular, a polysaccharide was isolated from dried P. vulgaris seeds. Only about one-seventh as much could be isolated from green P. lunatus seeds as from P. vulgaris seeds. The polysaccharide stimulates voluminous gas production by C. perfringens and meets all criteria of the rationale for flatulent sus pects. It has not been tested on humans; however, data from the microbiological assay correlate well with human results for green and dry lima beans and navy beans.