BIOSYNTHETIC RELATIONSHIP OF AROMOLINE AND BERBAMINE IN CULTURED ROOTS OF STEPHANIA-CEPHARANTHA

Cultured roots of Stephania cepharantha, rich in the bisbenzylisoquino lines aromoline (1) and berbamine (2), were fed [3-C-13]tyrosine. The labelled alkaloids were isolated. C-13 NMR spectra showed that C-13 wa s specifically incorporated into sites on 1 and 2. The ratios of C-13 enrichment for the benzyl and isoquinoline portions of 1 and 2 were th e same within the experimental limits, evidence that both alkaloids ar e derived from a common intermediate.