Biogenesis of rosmarinic acid in Mentha.
The biogenesis of rosmarinic acid (alpha-O-caffeoyl-3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-lactic acid), the second most common ester of caffeic acid in the plant kingdom, was studied in Mentha arvense and Mentha piperita. Administration of (14)C-labelled compounds showed that, whereas the caffeoyl moiety was formed from phenylalanine via cinnamic acid and p-coumaric acid, the 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-lactic acid moiety was formed from tyrosine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine. Time-course studies and the use of labelled rosmarinic acid showed that endogenous rosmarinic acid had a low turnover rate. The caffeoyl moiety did not appear to contribute to the formation of insoluble polymers, as has been suggested for chlorogenic acid in other plants.
D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003374:Coumarins / Q000378:metabolism; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine / Q000378:metabolism; D007773:Lactates / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000378:metabolism; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism
D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002934:Cinnamates; D003374:Coumarins; D007773:Lactates; D014443:Tyrosine; D010649:Phenylalanine; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine