Glyoxylic Acid
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Glyoxylic acid is the simplest representative of aldehyde acids, found in green plant parts and sometimes in urine. It is biologically important as it condenses with urea to form allantoin and is used in the Adamkiewicz reaction for proteins.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
GLYOXYLIC ACID, also known as oxoacetic acid or glyoxalic acid, is the simplest representative of aldehyde acids. It is found in the green parts of plants. Some authors have found it in urine (while others dispute this). Biologically important is the product of condensation of G. acid with two molecules of urea - allantoin (diureid of G. acid). Glyoxylic acid is usually present as an impurity in commercial acetic acid and causes the so-called Adamkiewicz reaction (see Adamkiewicz reaction) on proteins. The color obtained in this reaction depends on the formation of condensation products of G. acid with tryptophan. Hopkins and Cole (Hopkins, Cole) use glyoxylic acid directly as a reagent for tryptophan, obtained by reducing oxalic acid with sodium amalgam or magnesium powder.
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“Glyoxylic Acid.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/glyoxylic-acid/