Aberrant biosynthesis of 12-aminoprotoberberines
Abstract
The incorporation of labelled racemic 2′-aminoreticuline 2 into racemic 12-aminotetrahydropalmatine 6, 12-aminocanadine 8, 12-aminopalmatine 10 and 12-aminoberberine 11 has been studied in Cocculus laurifolius DC (Menispermaceae) and specific incorporation of 2 into 6, 8, 10 and 11 demonstrated. Further, it has been shown that 2 is not metabolized by the plants to form tetrahydropalmatine 5, palmatine 9 and berberine 12.