Deglucosidation of quercetin glucosides to the aglycone and formation of antifungal agents by peroxidase-dependent oxidation of quercetin on browning of onion scales

Outer scales of yellow onion bulbs turn brown during maturing. The brown outer scales contain an antifungal component, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid. An aim of the present study is to elucidate the mechanism of formation of the benzoic acid. In a browning scale, the scale was divided into three areas; fleshy, drying and dried brown areas. Levels of quercetin glucosides in dried brown areas were less than 10% of the glucosides in fleshy and drying areas, whereas levels of quercetin were high in dried brown areas. This result suggests that quercetin was formed by deglucosidation of quercetin glucosides on the border between drying and dried brown areas. Peroxidase (POX) activity of dried brown areas was about 10% of those of fleshy and drying areas. Quercetin was oxidized by autooxidation, and cell-free extracts of drying areas and POX isolated from onion scales enhanced the oxidation even in the absence of externally added hydrogen peroxide. The enhancement of quercetin oxidation was suppressed by catalase. No tyrosinase-like activity was detected in the cell-free extracts and the POX preparation. These results suggest that, during the enhanced oxidation of quercetin, hydrogen peroxide is formed. 3,4-Dihydroxybenzoic acid and 2,4,6-trihydroxyphenylglyoxylic acid, which were the oxidation products of quercetin, were found in dried brown area. These results suggest that an antifungal agent 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid is formed by POX-dependent oxidation of quercetin on browning of onion scales.