Microbial synthesis of dihydrochalcones using Rhodococcus and Gordonia species

Significance of Chalcone Scaffolds in Medicinal Chemistry

Chalcone is a simple naturally occurring α,β-unsaturated ketone with biological importance, which can also be easily synthesized in laboratories by reaction between two aromatic scaffolds. In plants, chalcones occur as polyphenolic compounds of different frameworks which are bioactive molecules that have been in traditional medicinal practice for many years. Chalcone-based lead molecules have been developed, possessing varied potentials such as antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-oxidant, antidiabetic, antihyperurecemic, and anti-ulcer effects. Chalcones contribute considerable fragments to give important heterocyclic molecules with therapeutic utilities targeting various diseases. These characteristic features have made chalcone a topic of interest among researchers and have attracted investigations into this widely applicable structure. This review highlights the extensive exploration carried out on the synthesis, biotransformations, chemical reactions, hybridization, and pharmacological potentials of chalcones, and aims to provide an extensive, thorough, and critical review of their importance, with emphasis on their properties, chemistry, and biomedical applications to boost future investigations into this potential scaffold in medicinal chemistry.

Regiospecific Hydrogenation of Bromochalcone by Unconventional Yeast Strains

This research aimed to select yeast strains capable of the biotransformation of selected 2′-hydroxybromochalcones. Small-scale biotransformations were carried out using four substrates obtained by chemical synthesis (2′-hydroxy-2″-bromochalcone, 2′-hydroxy-3″-bromochalcone, 2′-hydroxy-4″-bromochalcone and 2′-hydroxy-5′-bromochalcone) and eight strains of non-conventional yeasts. Screening allowed for the determination of the substrate specificity of selected microorganisms and the selection of biocatalysts that carried out the hydrogenation of tested compounds in the most effective way. It was found that the position of the bromine atom has a crucial influence on the degree of substrate conversion by the tested yeast strains. As a result of the biotransformation of the 2′-hydroxybromochalcones, the corresponding 2′-hydroxybromodihydrochalcones were obtained. The products obtained belong to the group of compounds with high potential as precursors of sweet substances.

Dihydrochalcones: Methods of Acquisition and Pharmacological Properties-A First Systematic Review

Dihydrochalcones are a class of secondary metabolites, for which demand in biological and pharmacological applications is still growing. They posses several health-endorsing properties and, therefore, are promising candidates for further research and development. However, low content of dihydrochalcones in plants along with their low solubility and bioavailability restrict the development of these compounds as clinical therapeutics. Therefore, chemomicrobial and enzymatic modifications are required to expand their application. This review aims at analyzing and summarizing the methods of obtaining dihydrochalcones and of presenting their pharmacological actions that have been described in the literature to support potential future development of this group of compounds as novel therapeutic drugs. We have also performed an evaluation of the available literature on beneficial effects of dihydrochalcones with potent antioxidant activity and multifactorial pharmacological effects, including antidiabetic, antitumor, lipometabolism regulating, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and immunomodulatory ones. In addition, we provide useful information on their properties, sources, and usefulness in medicinal chemistry.

Hydrogenation of Halogenated 2'-Hydroxychalcones by Mycelia of Marine-Derived Fungus Penicillium raistrickii

This study describes the chemoselective hydrogenation reaction of halogenated 2'-hydroxychalcones by the marine-derived fungus Penicillium raistrickii CBMAI 931. Initially, 2'-hydroxychalcone was utilized as a model for the selection of the appropriate conditions to perform the biotransformation reactions. The best results were obtained using mycelia and filtered culture broth, and this condition was chosen for the biotransformation reaction of 2'-hydroxychalcones substituted with methoxy and halogen groups. Experiments performed with 2'-hydroxychalcones dissolved in 600 μL-DMSO were more effective than those performed using 300 μL-DMSO, once solubility of the compounds influenced conversion rate in the liquid medium. The halogenated 2'-hydroxy-dihydrochalcones were obtained in good conversions (78-99%) and moderate isolated yields (31-65%). All biotransformation reactions using the marine-derived fungus P. raistrickii CBMAI 931 showed regioselective and chemoselective control for the formation of 2'-hydroxy-dihydrochalcones.

Biocatalytic hydrogenation of the C=C bond in the enone unit of hydroxylated chalcones-process arising from cyanobacterial adaptations

To verify the hypothesis that cyanobacteria naturally biosynthesising polyphenolic compounds possess an active enzymatic system that enables them to transform these substances, such an ability of the biocatalytic systems of whole cells of these biota was assessed for the first time. One halophilic strain and seven freshwater strains of cyanobacteria representing four of the five taxonomic orders of Cyanophyta were examined to determine the following: (i) whether they contain polyphenols, including flavonoids; (ii) the resistance of their cultures when suppressed by the presence of exogenous hydroxychalcones—precursors of flavonoid biosynthesis and (iii) whether these photoautotrophs can transform hydroxylated chalcones. All examined strains were found to contain polyphenols and flavonoids, and the growth of their cultures was inhibited in the presence of 2′-hydroxychalcone, 2″-hydroxychalcone and 4″-hydroxychalcone. We also confirmed that the examined cyanobacteria transformed hydroxychalcones via hydrogenative bio-reduction and formed the corresponding hydroxydihydro derivatives with yields above 90% whenever the substrates were bioavailable for such a conversion. Moreover, we observed that the routes and efficiency of biohydrogenation (and hydroxylation) of chalcones were dependent on the location of the hydroxyl substituent. The final products obtained as the results of biotransformations were extracted from the media and identified by mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, COSY, HSQC). Based on those results, we believe that the very efficient biohydrogenation of hydroxychalcones, which may easy be scaled up for biotechnological purposes, reflects the natural activity of the cyanobacterial defence system, because hydroxydihydrochalcones were less active inhibitors of the growth of cyanobacterial cultures than the corresponding substrates.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: A Gram-Negative Bacterium Useful for Transformations of Flavanone and Chalcone

A group of flavones, isoflavones, flavanones, and chalcones was subjected to small-scale biotransformation studies with the Gram-negative Stenotrophomonas maltophilia KB2 strain in order to evaluate the capability of this strain to transform flavonoid compounds and to investigate the relationship between compound structure and transformation type. The tested strain transformed flavanones and chalcones. The main type of transformation of compounds with a flavanone moiety was central heterocyclic C ring cleavage, leading to chalcone and dihydrochalcone structures, whereas chalcones underwent reduction to dihydrochalcones and cyclisation to a benzo-γ-pyrone moiety. Substrates with a C-2–C-3 double bond (flavones and isoflavones) were not transformed by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia KB2.

Highly effective, regiospecific reduction of chalcone by cyanobacteria leads to the formation of dihydrochalcone: two steps towards natural sweetness

BACKGROUND

Chalcones are the biogenetic precursors of all known flavonoids, which play an essential role in various metabolic processes in photosynthesizing organisms. The use of whole cyanobacteria cells in a two-step, light-catalysed regioselective bio-reduction of chalcone, leading to the formation of the corresponding dihydrochalcone, is reported. The prokaryotic microalgae cyanobacteria are known to produce phenolic compounds, including flavonoids, as natural components of cells. It seems logical that organisms producing such compounds possess a suitable "enzymatic apparatus" to carry out their biotransformation. Therefore, determination of the ability of whole cells of selected cyanobacteria to carry out biocatalytic transformations of chalcone, the biogenetic precursor of all known flavonoids, was the aim of our study.

RESULTS

Chalcone was found to be converted to dihydrochalcone by all examined cyanobacterial strains; however, the effectiveness of this process depends on the strain with biotransformation yields ranging from 3% to >99%. The most effective biocatalysts are Anabaena laxa, Aphanizomenon klebahnii, Nodularia moravica, Synechocystis aquatilis (>99% yield) and Merismopedia glauca (92% yield). The strains Anabaena sp. and Chroococcus minutus transformed chalcone in more than one way, forming a few products; however, dihydrochalcone was the dominant product. The course of biotransformation shed light on the pathway of chalcone conversion, indicating that the process proceeds through the intermediate cis-chalcone. The scaled-up process, conducted on a preparative scale and by using a mini-pilot photobioreactor, fully confirmed the high effectiveness of this bioconversion. Moreover, in the case of the mini-pilot photobioreactor batch cultures, the optimization of culturing conditions allowed the shortening of the process conducted by A. klebahnii by 50% (from 8 to 4 days), maintaining its >99% yield.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report related to the use of whole cells of halophilic and freshwater cyanobacteria strains in a two-step, light-catalysed regioselective bio-reduction of chalcone, leading to the formation of the corresponding dihydrochalcone. The total bioconversion of chalcone in analytical, preparative, and mini-pilot scales of this process creates the possibility of its use in the food industry for the production of natural sweeteners.

Biotechnological methods for chalcone reduction using whole cells of Lactobacillus, Rhodococcus and Rhodotorula strains as a way to produce new derivatives

Microbial strains of the genera Dietzia, Micrococcus, Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus, Gordonia, Streptomyces, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Penicillium, Rhodotorula and Lactobacillus were screened for the ability to convert chalcones. Synthesis of chalcones was performed by the Claisen-Schmidt reaction. There were three groups of chalcones obtained as the products, which included the derivatives containing 4-substituted chalcone, 2'-hydroxychalcone and 4'-methoxychalcone. The B ring of the chalcones was substituted in the para position with different groups, such as halide, hydroxyl, nitro, methyl, ethyl and ethoxy one. The structure-activity relationship of the tested chalcones in biotransformation processes was studied. It has been proven that Gram-positive bacterial strains Rhodococcus and Lactobacillus catalyzed reduction of C=C bond in the chalcones to give respective dihydrochalcones. The strain Rhodotorula rubra AM 82 transformed chalcones into dihydrochalcones and respective secondary alcohols. These results suggest that the probiotic strain of Lactobacillus can be used for biotransformations of chalcones, which has not been described before. The structure of new metabolites 14a and 15b were established as 4-ethoxy-4'-methoxydihydrochalcone and 3-(4-bromophenyl)-1-(4'-O-methylphenyl)-2-propan-1-ol, respectively, which was confirmed by (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR analysis.

Antimicrobial Activity of Xanthohumol and Its Selected Structural Analogues

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of structural analogues of xanthohumol 1, a flavonoid compound found in hops (Humulus lupulus). The agar-diffusion method using filter paper disks was applied. Biological tests performed for selected strains of Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria, fungi (Alternaria sp.), and yeasts (Rhodotorula rubra, Candida albicans) revealed that compounds with at least one hydroxyl group—all of them have it at the C-4 position—demonstrated good activity. Our research showed that the strain S. aureus was more sensitive to chalcones than to the isomers in which the heterocyclic ring C is closed (flavanones). The strain R. rubra was moderately sensitive to only one compound: 4-hydroxy-4’-methoxychalcone 8. Loss of the hydroxyl group in the B-ring of 4’-methoxychalcones or its replacement by a halogen atom (−Cl, −Br), nitro group (−NO₂), ethoxy group (−OCH₂CH₃), or aliphatic substituent (−CH₃, −CH₂CH₃) resulted in the loss of antimicrobial activity towards both R. rubra yeast and S. aureus bacteria. Xanthohumol 1, naringenin 5, and chalconaringenin 7 inhibited growth of S. aureus, whereas 4-hydroxy-4′-methoxychalcone 8 was active towards two strains: S. aureus and R. rubra.

Insect Antifeedant Potential of Xanthohumol, Isoxanthohumol, and Their Derivatives

Xanthohumol (14) and isoxanthohumol (6) derived from hop (Humulus lupulus L., Cannabaceae) and selected chalcone and chromene derivatives, obtained by chemical synthesis, were studied for antifeedant activity against the peach-potato aphid (Myzus persicae [Sulz.]). The study used also commercially available 4-chromanone (1), flavanone (4), naringenin (5), chromone (7), flavone (8), 7-aminoflavone (9), trans-chalcone (10), and 4-methoxychalcone (12). For chromone derivatives it was observed that the presence of a phenyl substituent at C-2 in the chromone (7) skeleton increased the insect antifeedant activity, and this activity was observed for a longer time. Also, the introduction of an amino group at C-7 of flavone (8) considerably increased the insect antifeedant activity, which was observed for the whole test time. Among the compounds examined, the strongest deterrents were isoxanthohumol (6), 7-methoxy-2,2-dimethylchroman-4-one (3), 7-aminoflavone (9), and 4-ethyl-4'-methoxychalcone (13).

Biotransformations and biological activities of hop flavonoids

Female hop cones are used extensively in the brewing industry, but there is now increasing interest in possible uses of hops for non-brewing purposes, especially in the pharmaceutical industry. Among pharmaceutically important compounds from hops are flavonoids, having proven anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and estrogenic effects. In this review we aim to present current knowledge on the biotransformation of flavonoids from hop cones with respect to products, catalysis and conversion. A list of microbial enzymatic reactions associated with gastrointestinal microbiota is presented. A comparative analysis of the biological activities of hop flavonoids and their biotransformation products is described, indicating where further research has potential for applications in the pharmaceutical industry.

Microbial biotransformation of bioactive flavonoids

The bioactive flavonoids are considered as the most important phytochemicals in food, which exert a wide range of biological benefits for human being. Microbial biotransformation strategies for production of flavonoids have attracted considerable interest because they allow yielding novel flavonoids, which do not exist in nature. In this review, we summarize the existing knowledge on the production and biotransformation of flavonoids by various microbes. The main reactions during microbial biotransformation are hydroxylation, dehydroxylation, O-methylation, O-demethylation, glycosylation, deglycosylation, dehydrogenation, hydrogenation, C ring cleavage of the benzo-γ-pyrone system, cyclization, and carbonyl reduction. Cunninghamella, Penicillium, and Aspergillus strains are very popular to biotransform flavonoids and they can perform almost all the reactions with excellent yields. Aspergillus niger is one of the most applied microorganisms in the flavonoids' biotransformation; for example, A. niger can transfer flavanone to flavan-4-ol, 2'-hydroxydihydrochalcone, flavone, 3-hydroxyflavone, 6-hydroxyflavanone, and 4'-hydroxyflavanone. The hydroxylation of flavones by microbes usually happens on the ortho position of hydroxyl group on the A ring and C-4' position of the B ring and microbes commonly hydroxylate flavonols at the C-8 position. The microorganisms tend to hydroxylate flavanones at the C-5, 6, and 4' positions; however, for prenylated flavanones, dihydroxylation often takes place on the C4α=C5α double bond on the prenyl group (the side chain of A ring). Isoflavones are usually hydroxylated at the C-3' position of the B ring by microorganisms. The microbes convert flavonoids to their 7-O-glycosides and 3-O-glycosides (when flavonoids have a hydroxyl moiety at the C-3 position). The demethylation of multimethoxyl flavonoids by microbes tends to happen at the C-3' and C-4' positions of the B ring. Multimethoxyl flavanones and isoflavone are demethylated at the C-7 and C-4' positions. The O-methylation of flavonols happens at the C-3' and C-4' and microorganisms O-methylate flavones at the C-6 position and the O-methylation of flavanones, usually took place on the hydroxyl groups of the A ring. The prenyl flavanones were cyclized at the prenyl side chain to form a new five-member ring attached to the A ring. Chalcones were regioselectively cyclized to flavanones. Hydrogenation of flavonoids was only reported on transformation of chalcones to dihydrochalcones. The dehydrogenation of flavanoids to flavonoids was not comprehensively studied.