Studies on the biosynthesis of striatal-type diterpenoids and the biological activity of herical.

Feeding experiments with specifically 13C-labeled glucose disclosed that the diterpenoid part of the striatals/striatins is formed via the mevalonate pathway, whereas the pentose moiety originates either via glucuronic acid (70%) or the pentose phosphate cycle (30%). Application of radioactively labeled herical to cultures of Hericium ramosum demonstrates the pivotal role of this cyathane-xyloside in striatal biosynthesis. Herical inhibits a large spectrum of fungi and bacteria and shows cytotoxic and hemolytic properties.