Biotransformation of Cannabinoid Precursors and Related Alcohols by Suspension Cultures of Callus induced from Cannabis sativa L

Abstract

In the suspension cultures using callus induced from Cannabis sativa L., geraniol, nerol, olivetol and ethyl olivetolate which are cannabinoid precursors were not biotrans- formed to cannabinoids. We found that primary and secondary allylic alcohols such as geraniol, nerol, trans-cinnamyl alcohol, isophorol and trans-verbenol were biotransformed to the corresponding aldehydes. On the other hand, acyclic secondary allylic alcohols such as α-ionol, β-ionol and 4-phenyl-3-buten-2-ol were not biotransformed. Further, we clarified that the enzyme which catalyzed the oxidation of allylic alcohols was an alcohol oxidase. © 1977, The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan. All rights reserved.