Drug Biosynthesis/Biogenesis

Question 1

▪ concentration of drug increases with the age of the plant
▪ identity of the constituent also varies according to the stage of development

Answer 1

Ontogeny or (stage of development

some drug has the highest cons at a young age
eg. Cannabis sativa - cannabidiol to cannabinol

Question 2

ex. Japanese peppermint – produces 40% menthol; 50x more menthol than
peppermint (Mentha piperita/Peppermint)

Answer 2

Heredity (genetic composition)

Question 3

Ex: Chichirica or Periwinkle - source of Vinca Alkaloids (wild and domesticated)

*same yield synthetic or natural; an anti-cancer drug

Answer 3

Environment (soil, climate, associated flora
and method of cultivation)

Question 4

Glycosides and their biosynthesis:
Emodin
Precursor - Poly-B-Ketomethylene Acid

Answer 4

Anthracene glycosides

Question 5

Glycosides and their biosynthesis:
Alizarin
shikimic acid—mevalonic acid mediators

Answer 5

Anthracene glycosides

Question 6

Glycosides and their biosynthesis:
Arbutin
shikimic acid via phenylalanine → cinnamic acid → hydroquinone → arbutin

Answer 6

Phenol Glycosides

Question 7

Glycosides and their biosynthesis:

Steroids and cardiac glycosides:
Acetate → Mevalonate → Isopentenyl Pyrophosphate → Squalene → Steroid

Answer 7

Steroid Glycosides

Question 8

Glycosides and their biosynthesis:
▪ Acetate Pathway
▪ Shikimic (phenylpropanoid) pathway

Answer 8

Flavonoid Glycosides

Question 9

Glycosides and their biosynthesis:

Dhurrin:
Shikimic Acid Pathway and Phenylalanine Pathway → Tyrosine → Dhurrin

Answer 9

Cyanogenetic Glycosides

Question 10

Glycosides and their biosynthesis:

Prunasin:
Shikimic Acid Pathway and Phenylalanine Pathway → Phenylalanine →
Prunasin

Answer 10

Cyanogenetic Glycosides

Question 11

Glycosides and their biosynthesis:
carboxy-labelled acetate (CH3COONa) + allyl moiety → Sinigrin

Answer 11

Thioglycosides/ Isothiocyante

Question 12

Glycosides and their biosynthesis:

Acetate → mevalonate → squalene → spiroketal steroids → steroidal saponins
ex: diosgenin

Answer 12

Saponin Glycosides

Question 13

Glycosides and their biosynthesis:

Pentacyclic triterpenoids → triterpenoid saponins ex: ß-amyrin

Answer 13

Saponin Glycosides

Question 14

Glycosides and their biosynthesis:

Shikimic Acid Pathway: Shikimic acid → phenylalanine → Cinnamic acid → Vanillin

Answer 14

Aldehyde Glycosides