Isolation and identification of dihydroartemisinic acid from artemisia annua and its possible role in the biosynthesis of artemisinin
Dihydroartemisinic acid (2) was isolated as a natural product from Artemisia annua in a 66% yield, and its structure was confirmed by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Compound 2 could be chemically converted to artemisinin (4) under conditions that may also be present in the living plant. The results suggest that the conversion of 2 into 4 in the living plant might be a nonenzymatic conversion.
Wallaart
TE
Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, University Centre for Pharmacy, Groningen Institute for Drug Studies, University of Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, NL-9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands.
van Uden W
Lubberink
HG
Woerdenbag
HJ
Pras
N
Quax
WJ