Tetrahedron

The chemistry of Lactarius fuliginosus and Lactarius picinus

M De Bernardi, G Vidari, PV Finzi, G Fronza

Index: De Bernardi; Vidari; Vita Finzi; Fronza Tetrahedron, 1992 , vol. 48, # 35 p. 7331 - 7344

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Citation Number: 31

Abstract

Intact fruit-bodies of the Basidiomycetes Lactarius fuliginosus and L. picinus have been found to contain the stearic acid ester 4b. When the mushrooms are injured 4b is rapidly converted to the acrid free phenol 4a which is then gradually oxidized to a mxiture of red pigments, benzofuran 9 and chromenes 8, 10–13 (or 14), 15, 20 and 22. These chemical transformations are involved in the change of taste and colour of the latex and flesh of the ...