Pterocarpan

Pterocarpans are derivatives of isoflavonoids found in the Fabaceae family. It is a group of compounds which can be described as benzo-pyrano-furano-benzenes (i.e. 6H-[1]benzofuro[3,2-c]chromene skeleton) which can be formed by coupling of the B ring to the 4-one position.^[1]

2'-hydroxyisoflavone reductase is the enzyme responsible for the conversion in Cicer arietinum^[2] and glyceollin synthase for the production of glyceollins, phytoalexins in soybean.^[3]

 

Known compounds

Medicarpin chemical structure

Phaseolin – a prenylated pterocarpan – chemical structure

 

Glyceollin III – a prenylated pterocarpan – chemical structure

• Bitucarpin A and B, isolated from the aerial parts of Mediterranean plants Bituminaria morisiana and Bituminaria bituminosa^[4]
• Erybraedin A and B, isolated from the stems of Erythrina subumbrans^[5] and C, isolated from the leaves of Bituminaria morisiana^[6]
• Erythrabyssin II, erystagallin A, erythrabissin-1, and erycristagallin isolated from the stems of Erythrina subumbrans^[5]
• Glycinol, glyceollidin I and II, glyceollins (glyceollin I, II, III and IV), found in the soybean (Glycine max)^[7]
• Glycyrrhizol A, isolated from the root of the Chinese licorice plant (Glycyrrhiza uralensis)
• Maackiain, isolated from the roots of Maackia amurensis subsp. Buergeri^[8]
• Medicarpin, found in Medicago truncatula
• Morisianine, isolated from the seeds of Bituminaria morisiana^[9]
• Orientanol A, isolated from the wood of Erythrina orientalis^[10]
• Phaseolin, found in French bean seeds^[11]
• Pisatin, found in Pisum sativum^[12]
• Striatine, isolated from aerial parts of Mundulea striata^[13]
• Trifolirhizin, found in Sophora flavescens

References