Glucosylation of phenolic compounds by plant cell cultures

Ten culture strains derived from seven species of plants were examined for their ability to glucosylate erogenous phenolic compounds including four simple phenols, four coumarins, three flavonoids and three anthraquinones. Suspension cultures of Datura, Lithospermum, Perilla and Catharanthus were capable of glucosylating m-hydroxybenzoic acid, umbelliferone, esculetin, daphnetin, and liquiritigenin. In particular, Datura cultures glucosylated ca 90% of umbelliferone within 24hr after administration. Only Perilla cultures were capable of glucosylating rhein and emodin. The ability of glucosylating isomeric hydroxybenzoic acids varied widely with culture strains. A culture strain of Mallotus transformed p-hydroxybenzoic acid to p-O-β-d-glucosylbenzoic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid glucose ester, whereas only o-O-β-d-glucosylbenzoic acid was formed from o-hydroxybenzoic acid.