1.14.14.132 metabolism the enzyme is involved in the biosynthesis of (-)-4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin (the etoposide aglycone), a naturally occurring lignan that is the immediate precursor of etoposide and, unlike podophyllotoxin, a potent topoisomerase inhibitor. Biosynthetic pathway of (-)-podophyllotoxin, overview 737265