BIOSYNTHESIS OF O–ALKYL–FUROCOUMARINS

Abstract

The biosynthesis of O–alkyl-furocoumarins has been investigated in Ammi majus, Apium graveolens and Petroselinum sativum, feeding these herbs with labeled psoralen and with labeled rutaretin (8–hydroxymarmesin).

Only psoralen was efficaciously incorporated in isolated O–alkyl-furocoumarins, while rutaretin was practically not utilized. These data show that in these herbs O–alkyl-furocoumarins derives from the hydroxylation of psoralen, which behaves as a transient precursor for other furocoumarins and therefore cannot be accumulated. On the other hand marmesin cannot be hydroxylated in the three herbs.