Biosynthesis Of Alpha-Spinasterol In Pumpkin

After administration of [3α- 3 H]-5α-stigmast-7-en-3β-ol (I) to the leaves of pumpkin plants ( Cucurbita pepo L.) radioactive α-spinasterol (II) was isolated and degraded to 3β-acetoxy-5α-bisnorchol-7-enaldehyde (VI) which was shown to be radiochemically pure by TLC and crystallization to constant specific radioactivity.