Stages in the biosynthesis of [6]-gingerol in zingiber Officinale

Abstract

[2-¹⁴C,³H,3-³H]Dihydroferulic acid and [1-¹⁴C,6-³H]hexanoic acid are shown to be incorporated into (S)-[6]-gingerol in Zingiber officinale, the ³H/¹⁴C ratio falling by ½ in the first case but remaining constant in the second; a biogenetic scheme is proposed to accommodate these results, and includes discussion of the late stages of biosynthesis in the light of satisfactory incorporation of [10-³H]-[6]-dehydrogingerol (5).