Myricanol and myricanone biosynthesis in Myrica rubra : incorporation of two molecules of 4-coumaric acid

After feeding experiments of Myrica rubra young shoots with 4-[8,9-13C2]coumaric acid, mass spectrometric analyses revealed that the cyclic diarylheptanoids, myricanol and myricanone, were derived from two molecules of 4-coumaric acid. 13C Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of myricanol isolated after administration of 4-[8,9-13C2]coumaric acid demonstrated that the C-8 and C-9 atoms of 4-coumaric acid are incorporated into C-8, C-9, C-11, and C-12 of the corresponding myricanol.