A pinoresinol-lariciresinol reductase homologue from the creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) catalyzes the efficient in vitro conversion of p-coumaryl/coniferyl alcohol esters into the allylphenols chavicol/eugenol, but not the propenylphenols p-anol/isoeugenol.

The creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) accumulates a complex mixture of 8-8' regiospecifically linked lignans, of which the potent antioxidant nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) is the most abundant. Its tetra-O-methyl derivative (M4N) is showing considerable promise in the treatment of refractory (hard-to-treat) brain and central nervous system tumors. NDGA and related 9,9'-deoxygenated lignans are thought to be formed by dimerization of allyl/propenyl phenols, phenylpropanoid compounds that lack C-9 oxygenation, thus differentiating them from the more common monolignol-derived lignans. In our ongoing studies dedicated towards elucidating the biochemical pathway to NDGA and its congeners, a pinoresinol-lariciresinol reductase homologue was isolated from L. tridentata, with the protein obtained in functional recombinant form. This protein efficiently catalyzes the conversion of p-coumaryl and coniferyl alcohol esters into the corresponding allylphenols, chavicol and eugenol; neither of their propenylphenol regioisomers, p-anol and isoeugenol, are formed during this enzyme reaction.