Conversion of menthyl acetate or neomenthyl acetate into menthol or neomenthol by cell suspension cultures of Mentha canadensis and Mentha piperita

Abstract

Suspension cultures of Mentha canadensis and Mentha piperita transformed added l-(−)-menthyl acetate and d-(+)-menthyl acetate such as d-(+)-neomenthyl acetate and l-(−)-neomenthyl acetate into their corresponding alcohols. Within 24 h most of the l-(−)-menthol was converted into l-(−)-menthyl glucoside. Small amounts of d-(+)-menthol and d-(+)-neomenthol were also transformed into their glucosides, while l-(−)-neomenthol decreased without glucosylation. In cultured M. canadensis the glucosylation was more enantioselective and stereospecific to l-menthol than in cultured M. piperita