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Planta Med 1985; 51(5): 387-390
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-969527
Research Articles

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Untersuchungen zum Turnover von Cardenoliden in Convallaria majalis 1,*

Studies on the Turnover of Cardenolides in Convallaria majalis R. Schrutka-Rechtenstamm2 , B. Kopp2 , W. Löffelhardt3
  • 2Institut für Pharmakognosie der Universität Wien, Währinger Straße 25, A-1090 Wien
  • 3Institut für Allgemeine Biochemie der Universität Wien und Ludwig-Boltzmann-Forschungsstelle für Biochemie, Währinger Straße 38, A-1090 Wien
* Herrn Prof. Dr. M. Wichtl zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet.1 Teil der Dissertation R. Meischl (1984) Universität Wien; auszugsweise vorgetragen bei der 4. Wissenschaftlichen Tagung der Österreichischen Pharmazeutischen Gesellschaft, Wien, 1983
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1985

1985

Publication Date:
26 February 2007 (online)

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Abstract

In leaves of Convallaria majalis L. the cardenolide content is known to decrease towards the end of the vegetation period. However, at this stage the rate of biosynthesis is even higher than at the onset of flowering. This has been revealed by photosynthesis experiments in the presence of 14CO2 and the subsequent isolation of 15 labelled cardenolides using PC, TLC and HPLC. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that the first step in the degradative pathway of convalloside is deglucosidation yielding convallatoxin, followed by conversion into several yet unidentified degradation products other than known cardenolides of C. majalis. This indicates that the cardenolides of C. majalis are subjected to a turnover at least towards the end of the vegetation period.