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.