History of phytic acid

Phytic acid was discovered in 1855 by Hartig, who isolated it from small non-starch grains from the seeds of several plant species.

He considered these small particles of phytate to be source of essential reserve nutrients for seed germination and plant growth. Hartig later named the granules ‘aleurone grains’.

Phytic acid was firsts recognized as calcium/magnesium salt organic phosphates by Pfeffer in 1872 in the sub-cellular particles of wheat endosperm.

Pfeffer characterized the grains isolated by Hartig into three groups: crystals of calcium oxalate, a protein substance and a compound that gave no reaction when tested for protein, fat or inorganic salts.

In 1903 Posternak was the first to describe about phytic acid. Anderson in 1914 proposed the structure of phytic acid was confirmed finally by NMR spectroscopy in 1969.

Anderson in 1915 wrote one of the first reports where existence of the phytase enzyme in wheat was determined and its capacity to hydrolyze phytate releasing inorganic phosphorus was demonstrated.
History of phytic acid