The fluorescence of ellagic acid and its borax complex

The absorption and fluorescence properties of the plant phenol ellagic acid have been studied in alcohol and aqueous solutions. Fluorescence is weak in all kinds of solvents, but is greatly enhanced by addition of borax. The resulting complex emits much more intensely in methanol than in water solution. UV and fluorescence data reveal that the complex formed in methanol is different from the complex formed in aqueous solution. The enormous fluorescence enhancement of ellagic acid by borax offers a simple method for the visualization and quantification of the potent anti-mutagen ellagic acid as well as a fluorimetric method for the determination of boron.The IUPAC name for ellagic acid is 2,3,7,8-tetra-hydroxy1]benzopyrano5,4,3—c,d,e]1]-benzopyran-5,10-dione.