BIOSYNTHESIS OF THE BUTENOLIDE RING OF CARDENOLIDES IN DIGITALIS PURPUREA

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81282-0

Administration of labelled 3β20ξ-dihydroxy-23-norchol-5-enoic acid, 3-oxo-20ξ-hydroxy-23-norchol-4-enoic acid, 3β,20ξ-dihydroxy-23-nor-5β-cholanoic acid, 3β,14β,20ξ-trihydroxy-23-nor-5β-cholanioc acid, 3β-hydroxy-23-norchola-5,20(22)E-dienoic acid, 3-oxo-23-norchola-4,20(22)E-dienoic acid and 3β-hydroxy-23-nor-5β-chol-20(22)E-enoic acid to Digitalis purpurea intact plants produced labelled digitoxin and gitoxin.The incorporation results indicate the existence of an alternative pathway, via norcholanoic acid derivatives, for the biosynthesis of the butenolide ring of cardenolides.Key Word Index - Digitalis purpurea; Scrophulariaceae; foxglove; cardenolide; biosynthesis; digitoxin; gitoxin; norcholanoic acids.