Biosynthesis of fukinolic acid isolated from Petasites japonicus.

The biosynthesis of fukinolic acid, which had been isolated from the Japanese fuki vegetable, Petasites japonicus, was investigated by feeding selected (13)C-labeled compounds to axenic cultures of P. japonicus. [1,2-(13)C(2)] sodium acetate and [1-(13)C] L-tyrosine were incorporated into the fukiic acid sub group, while [3-(13)C] L-phenylalanine was incorporated into the caffeic acid moiety.