BIOSYNTHESIS OF SCOPOLIN IN TOBACCO

[2- 14 C]Ferulic acid was fed to tobacco leaves and the radioactive products isolated after 6, 24, and 72 h of metabolism were studied. About half the fed activity was rapidly converted to water-soluble compounds. Feruloylglucose and an ester of ferulic acid glucoside were quickly formed, the former being subsequently incorporated into the fiber and the latter giving rise to scopolin. It is proposed that a ferulic acid glucoside derivative is the natural precursor of scopolin in tobacco.