Preface

Since discovered in the mid 1800’s in plant seeds, inositol and its hexaphosphate (IP₆, or more accurately InsP₆), particularly InsP₆ have enjoyed varying degree of reputation or infamy. Initially InsP₆ was considered an important component of seeds; then the acid form’s metal chelating property was appreciated by chemist, the same attribute was then incriminated for mineral deficiency by nutritionist, for a very long time. Then came the discovery of inositol triphosphate (InsP₃) and tetraphosphate (InsP₄) in yeasts; and InsP₆’s anticancer and immune boosting action in the 1980’s. All through this, the knowledge has been compartmentalized or boxed in so to speak. In other words, there has not been much, if any interdisciplinary communication and; perhaps a lack of in-depth research in the prevailing scientific literature. For instance, that large doses of InsP6 was successfully used for prevention of kidney stone back in the 1950’s (from institutions no less than Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and published in the New England Journal of Medicine) remained largely unknown, even to the researchers in the field, and worse, those from the same institution, as gathered from review of literatures and omission of citations. Likewise, the earlier reports on the biochemistry and metabolism of inositol phosphates (InsP_s) in eukaryotes make no mention of their presence in the plant kingdom; and till now, many simply fail to comprehend and therefore chose to ignore the anticancer property. This scenario is akin to the proverbial description of an elephant by the visually impaired, each of whom has an idea of the parts they have felt, albeit in a limited manner; but the whole is not understood.

Addressing this lack of interdisciplinary knowledge, thus the purpose of this eBook is to give as comprehensive an account of inositol and its phosphates, especially InsP₆ - the ‘elephant in the room’ as possible.

The contents of the eBook are for a wide range of readers consistent with the wide and divergent functions and applications of inositol and its phosphates. To cater to a broader audience from physical sciences as well as biological sciences, we have often used terms and information that some may find too basic while others not; this has also been deliberate. Owing to the vast amount of literature on the chemistry, metabolism and biosynthesis of InsPs we have chosen to limit the discussion on that, but focus more on areas that we think are poorly represented in the literature.

There are certain overlaps in presentation of the materials that are not only unavoidable, but to some extent intentional: unavoidable because the mechanisms of actions are related to practical applications, especially in biological fields; and it was intentionally done to readily recall the connection between the cause and mechanistic effect, as the two are often inseparable, to get the whole picture to satisfy our intellectual curiosity without having to go back and forth to the relevant chapters.

Finally, we hope that this eBook will help more interdisciplinary communication and research to further enhance our understanding and usage of inositol and its phosphates for betterment of life in this planet.