09.04.2013 Views

The genus Cinnamomum

The genus Cinnamomum

The genus Cinnamomum

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

94 U.M. Senanayake and R.O.B. Wijesekera<br />

CH 3 O<br />

HO<br />

HO<br />

Phenylalanine<br />

Cinnamic acid<br />

Anethole<br />

Chavicol<br />

CH3O Eugenol<br />

CH2 CH COOH<br />

CH<br />

CH 2<br />

NH 2<br />

CH<br />

CH CH<br />

CH<br />

COOH<br />

CH 3<br />

CH 2<br />

CH2 CH CH2 HO CH CH CH2OH HO<br />

CH 3 O CH 3 O<br />

Coniferyl alcohol<br />

B<br />

A<br />

CH 3 O<br />

HO<br />

CH<br />

Cinnamic aldehyde<br />

CH<br />

Cinnamyl alcohol<br />

Estragole<br />

HO<br />

CH 2<br />

Ferulic acid<br />

Caffeic acid<br />

CH – CHO<br />

CH<br />

CH<br />

CH CH<br />

CH CH<br />

CH 2 OH<br />

CH 2<br />

COOH<br />

COOH<br />

Figure 3.4 Pathways for the formation of (A) eugenol from ferullic acid and (B) eugenol and related<br />

compounds from cinnamic acid.<br />

Eugenol biosynthesis<br />

To investigate the mechanism of the transformation of the side-chain of L-phenylalanine<br />

into the allyl group of eugenol, DL-phenylalanines, each carrying a 14C label at one of<br />

the three positions in the side-chain, were administered to cinnamon cuttings. PA2 and<br />

PA3 but not PA1 were effective precursors of eugenol biosynthesis (Senanayake et al.,<br />

1977).

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!