The biosynthesis of the antioxidant caffeic acid derivative subulatin by the liverwort Jungermannia subulata cultured in vitro

► No caffeic acid was incorporated into trilobatinoic acid C unit of subulatin. ► No phenylalanine was incorporated into trilobatinoic acid C unit of subulatin. ► Intact arabinose was incorporated into trilobatinoic acid C unit of subulatin. ► Trilobatinoic acid C unit would be biosynthesized from arabinose-5-P and PEP.