Biotransformation of Cardenolides

Abstract

Cardenolides common to the plant species were metabolized by plant cell culture more rapidly than cardenolides not common to that species. Both glucosylation and deacetylation could be observed with Thevetia and Digitalis cell culture, while deglucosylation and oxidation only occurred with the Thevetia and 12β–hydroxylation only with the Digitalis cell cultures. With the Digitalis cell culture two as yet unknown cardenolides were formed by 12–hydroxylation, i. e. presumably 12–hydroxyuzarigenin and 12–hydroxyneriifolin. With the Thevetia cell culture digitoxigenone and two as yet unknown cardenolides were formed by oxidation, i. e. uzarigenone and Δ^4–uzarigen–3–one.

Key Word Index

Thevetia neriifolia - Apocynaceae - Digitalis lanata - Scrophulariaceae - Plant Cell Culture - Cardenolides - Biotransformation