Studies onC-glycosides in higher plants

The biosynthesis of bergenin and arbutin in the organs ofSaxifraga stolonifera has been studied by tracer techniques. Among the organs tested, the leaves showed the highest incorporation of label fromd-glucose-U-14C into bergenin and arbutin under continuous light, although every organ is more or less able to synthesize both glucosides. The incorporation rate into bergenin was higher in the young leaves, whereas the synthesis of arbutin became active in the mature leaves. The fact that the addition of unlabeled gallic acid enhanced the incorporation of label into bergenin suggests that gallic acid may be a likely glucosyl acceptor in bergenin biosynthesis.