Formation of edulinine and furoquinoline alkaloids from quinoline derivatives by cell suspension cultures of Ruta graveolens

The formation of furoquinoline alkaloids and of edulinine, elaborated by cell suspension cultures of Ruta graveolens, was found to occur by way of 4-hydroxy-2-quinolone. Other substrates transformed to furoquinolines included 4-hydroxy- and 4-methoxy-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-2-quinolone, known earlier as natural precursors in studies with whole plants. Involvement of dictamnine as a natural precursor of 8-methoxydictamnine (γ-fagarine) and skimmianine was proved using ¹⁴C-labelled compounds. Edulinine in the cell suspensions was formed from such substrates as 4-hydroxy-N-methyl-2-quinolone, 4-hydroxy-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-N-methyl-2-quinolone and its 4- methyl ether; this is probably the natural biosynthetic sequence. Changes in alkaloid yields were noted upon prolonged subculturing.