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Planta Med 1993; 59(1): 46-50
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-959602
Paper

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Effects of Near-Ultraviolet Light on Alkaloid Production in Catharanthus roseus Plants

Kazumasa Hirata, Makiko Asada, Eiko Yatani, Kazuhisa Miyamoto, Yoshiharu Miura
  • Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6, Yamadaoka, Suita, 565, Japan
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Publication History

1991

1992

Publication Date:
04 January 2007 (online)

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Abstract

Artificial near-ultraviolet light with a peak at 370 nm and the light of natural radiation with wavelengths between 290 and 380 nm stimulated the synthesis of dimeric indole alkaloids in intact plants of Catharanthus roseus. The artificial light also specifically stimulated an in vitro FMN-mediated, non-enzymatic coupling of vindoline and catharanthine to synthesize an iminium intermediate, the in vivo precursor of dimeric alkaloid synthesis. These results suggest that near-ultraviolet light is necessary for catharanthine oxidation as a trigger reaction of dimer synthesis in the plants.

Key words

Catharanthus roseus - dimeric indole alkaloid synthesis - vindoline - catharanthine - UV irradiation - 3′,4′-anhydrovinblastine