Identification of L-Bornesitol and Changes in Its Content during Flower Bud Development in Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratusL.)

An unidentified carbohydrate was isolated from sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratusL. cv. Diana) petals using HPLC. The isolated compound was identified as L-1-O-methyl-myo-inositol, called L-bornesitol, using 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and CI-MS. L-Bornesitol was distributed in all organs at high concentrations. L-Bornesitol concentration of petals gradually decreased during flower bud development, but the L-bornesitol content increased by about 5 times.