R. J. Pryce
Apr 1, 1972
Citations
0
Influential Citations
31
Citations
Journal
Phytochemistry
Abstract
Abstract The time course of metabolism of the C15-dihydrostilbene carboxylic acid derivative, lunularic acid (V), in the liverwort Lunularia cruciata is reported. One of the primary metabolites of 14C-lunularic acid has been identified as a new natural C14-dihydrostilbene derivative named lunularin (IX). Lunularin is the simple decarboxylation product of lunularic acid and is a normal constituent of the liverwort. Incorporations of U-14C- l -phenylalanine, 1-14C-sodium acetate and 14C-hydrangenol (III) into lunularin by L. cruciata are also presented. These results establish the previously proposed intermediary role of C15-stilbene carboxylic acids in the phenylpropanoid-polymalonate pathway to the C14-stilbene derivatives of plants. Evidence in support of a hypothesis for the photoperiodic control of liverwort growth by control of lunularic acid synthesis is presented. The antifungal activities of lunularic acid and lunularin are compared in spore germination bioassays.