Biosynthetic studies on alkaloids in Lunasia amara

Abstract

Benzoic acid[14CO2H] and sodium acetate[2-14C] are incorporated into 4- methoxy-2-phenylquinoline,the major alkaloid in the leaves of L. amara. No radioactivity is found in the quinoline when sodium acetate[1-14C] or phenylalanine[3-14C] are administered; this suggests the alkaloid is derived from anthranilic acid by the pathway suggested by Leete.1 Mevalonic acid[2-14C] is incorporated into the furanoquinoline alkaloid lunacrine.