Blue Fluorescent Chlorophyll Catabolites from Banana Leaves Hypermodified with Terpenoidic Groups Related to Abscisic Acid

Abstract In senescent leaves of banana ( Musa acuminata ) hypermodified fluorescent chlorophyll (Chl) catabolites ( hm FCCs) accumulate and give these leaves an easily observable blue fluorescence. Non‐fluorescent Chl‐catabolites (NCCs) are not detected, the typical colourless Chl‐catabolites that accumulate in most de‐greened plant leaves. Here, we report the isolation and spectroscopic structural characterization of two very lipophilic hm FCCs, named Ma ‐FCC‐78 and Ma ‐FCC‐79. These two novel Ma ‐FCCs are hypermodified with megastigmane (Megs) residues, terpenoids related to the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA). Thus, these hypermodified Ma ‐FCCs from senescent banana leaves may possibly play novel physiological roles, on the one hand, in the regulation of stress response, a fundamental role of ABA, on the other hand, by providing some of the cytotoxic, antibacterial and antioxidant activities of Megs.