He showed in 1945 that luteic acid, a molecule present in the myrobalanitannin, a tannin found in the fruit of Terminalia chebula, is an intermediary compound in the synthesis of ellagic acid.[4] Working with Arthur George Perkin, he prepared ellagic acid from algarobilla and certain other fruits in 1905.[5] He suggested its formation from galloyl-glycine by Penicillium in 1915.[6] Tannase is an enzyme that Niederstein used to produce m-digallic acid from gallotannins.[7] He proved the presence of catechin in cocoa beans in 1931.[8]