BIOSYNTHESIS OF BERBERINE AND BERBERASTINE INCORPORATION OF CATECHOLAMINES

Dopamine serves as a precursor of berberastine, berberine, hydrastine, and canadine in Hydrastis canadensis L. Noradrenaline serves as a precursor of berberastine but is not incorporated into the other three bases. It is shown that the incorporation of labelled dopamine into berberine and of labelled noradrenaline into berberastine takes place without randomization of radioactivity.