Studies on the Biosynthesis of Pseudoisoeugenols in Tissue Cultures of Pimpinella anisum

A leaf-differentiating tissue culture which produced substantial amounts of pseudoisoeugenol- (2-methylbutyrate) has been used to examine the origin of the pseudoisoeugenol skeleton. 14Cand 13C-labelling revealed ʟ-phenylalanine, trans-cinnamic acid and p-coumaric acid as precursors. 13C-labelled precursors proved to be especially useful.