Microbial transformation of two 15α-hydroxy-ent-kaur-16-ene diterpenes by Mucor plumbeus

Insect Antifeedant Benzofurans from Pericallis Species

In this work, we have studied the benzofurans of Pericallis echinata (aerial parts and transformed roots), P. steetzii (aerial parts and transformed roots), P. lanata (aerial parts), and P. murrayi (aerial parts and roots). This work has permitted the isolation of the new benzofurans 10-ethoxy-11-hydroxy-10,11-dihydroeuparin (10), (-)-eupachinin A ethyl ether (12), 11,15-didehydro-eupachinin A (13), 10,12-dihydroxy-11-angelyloxy-10,11-dihydroeuparin (14), 2,4-dihydroxy-5-formyl-acetophenone (15) isolated for the first time as a natural product, 11-angelyloxy-10,11-dihydroeuparin (16), and 12-angelyloxyeuparone (17), along with several known ones (1-9, 11). In addition, the incubation of the abundant component, 6-hydroxytremetone (1), with the fungus Mucor plumbeus has been studied. Benzofurans in the tremetone series (1, 1a, 2-5, 18, 18a), the euparin series (6, 7, 7a, 8-10, 14, 16), and the eupachinin-type (11, 12) were tested for antifeedant effects against the insect Spodoptera littoralis. The antifeedant compounds (1, 4, 6, 11, 12) were further tested for postingestive effects on S. littoralis larvae. The most antifeedant compounds were among the tremetone series, with 3-ethoxy-hydroxy-tremetone (4) being the strongest antifeedant. Glucosylation of 1 by its biotransformation with Mucor plumbeus gave inactive products. Among the euparin series, the dihydroxyangelate 14 was the most active, followed by euparin (6). The eupachinin-type compounds (11, 12) were both antifeedants. Compounds 4, 11, and 12 showed antifeedant effects without postingestive toxicity to orally dosed S. littoralis larvae. Euparin (6) had postingestive toxicity that was enhanced by the synergist piperonyl butoxide.

Transformation of 15-ene steviol by Aspergillus niger, Cunninghamella bainieri, and Mortierella isabellina

Transformation of 15-ene steviol (ent-13-hydroxy-kaur-15-en-19-oic acid) by growth cultures of Aspergillus niger BCRC 32720, Cunninghamella bainieri ATCC 9244, and Mortierella isabellina ATCC 38063 was conducted to generate various derivatives for the development of bioactive compounds. Four previously undescribed compounds along with six known compounds were obtained. The newly identified isolates were characterized using 1D and 2D NMR, IR, and HRESIMS, and three compounds were further confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analyses. Subsequently, the effects of 15-ene steviol and its derivatives on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cytokine production by THP-1 cells were examined, with dexamethasone used as a positive control. Results indicated that most of the tested compounds showed lower inhibitory effects than those detected in the dexamethasone-treated group, except that 15-ene steviol showed better effects than dexamethasone on the reduction of LPS-induced monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, -2, and -3 release. Three specialized products similarly showed better effects than dexamethasone on the inhibition of LPS-induced secretion of regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES). Moreover, none of the tested compounds showed any cytotoxicity or triggered cell apoptosis, and none affected the protein integrity of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) or MyD88, suggesting that these compounds may exert the anti-inflammatory activity downstream of membrane-associated TLR4 and MyD88 molecules.

Sesquiterpene Lactones from Artemisia absinthium. Biotransformation and Rearrangement of the Insect Antifeedant 3α-hydroxypelenolide

Three new compounds, the sesquiterpenes absilactone and hansonlactone and the acetophenone derivative ajenjol, have been isolated from a cultivated variety of Artemisia absinthium. In addition, the major lactone isolated, 3α-hydroxypelenolide, was biotransformed by the fungus Mucor plumbeus affording the corresponding 1β, 10α-epoxide. A cadinane derivative was formed by an acid rearrangement produced in the culture medium, but not by the enzymatic system of the fungus. Furthermore, 3α-hydroxypelenolide showed strong antifeedant effects against Leptinotarsa decemlineata and cytotoxic activity to Sf9 insect cells, while the biotransformed compounds showed antifeedant postingestive effects against Spodoptera littoralis.

Synthesis of a new allelopathic agent from the biotransformation of ent-15α-hydroxy-16-kauren-19-oic acid with Fusarium proliferatum

The use of kaurane diterpenes as substrates in fungal biotransformation to achieve bioactive compounds has been widely reported. In this work, the natural product kaurenoic acid, a diterpene widely distributed in the plant Kingdom, was chemically converted into ent-15α-hydroxy-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (1). Substrate 1 was subjected to biotransformation by the fungus Fusarium proliferatum, furnishing a new derivative, ent-2α,15α-dihydroxy-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (2). The structure of metabolite 2 was deduced on the basis of spectroscopy and MS data. Derivative 2 showed allelopathic activity on germination and growth of root and stem of lettuce (Lactuca sativa), inhibiting 100% of germination and growth of roots and stem, at higher concentration assayed (10-4 mol/L).

Biotransformation of an africanane sesquiterpene by the fungus Mucor plumbeus

Biotransformation of 8β-hydroxy-african-4(5)-en-3-one angelate by the fungus Mucor plumbeus afforded as main products 6α,8β-dihydroxy-african-4(5)-en-3-one 8β-angelate and 1α,8β-dihydroxy-african-4(5)-en-3-one 8β-angelate, which had been obtained, together with the substrate, from transformed root cultures of Bethencourtia hermosae. This fact shows that the enzyme system involved in these hydroxylations in both organisms, the fungus and the plant, acts with the same regio- and stereospecificity. In addition another twelve derivatives were isolated in the incubation of the substrate, which were identified as the (2'R,3'R)- and (2'S,3'S)-epoxy derivatives of the substrate and of the 6α- and 1α-hydroxy alcohols, the 8β-(2'R,3'R)- and 8β-(2'S,3'S)-epoxyangelate of 8β,15-dihydroxy-african-4(5)-en-3-one, the hydrolysis product of the substrate, and three isomers of 8β-hydroxy-african-4(5)-en-3-one 2ξ,3ξ-dihydroxy-2-methylbutanoate. The insect antifeedant effects of the pure compounds were tested against chewing and sucking insect species along with their selective cytotoxicity against insect (Sf9) and mammalian (CHO) cell lines.

Microbial biotransformation as a tool for drug development based on natural products from mevalonic acid pathway: A review

Natural products are structurally and biologically interesting metabolites, but they have been isolated in minute amounts. The syntheses of such natural products help in obtaining them in bulk amounts. The recognition of microbial biotransformation as important manufacturing tool has increased in chemical and pharmaceutical industries. In recent years, microbial transformation is increasing significantly from limited interest into highly active area in green chemistry including preparation of pharmaceutical products. This is the first review published on the usage of microbial biocatalysts for some natural product classes and natural product drugs.

The remarkable structural diversity achieved in ent-Kaurane Diterpenes by fungal biotransformations

The use of biotransformations in organic chemistry is widespread, with highlights of interesting applications in the functionalization of natural products containing unactivated carbons, like the kaurane diterpenes. A number of compounds with kaurane skeletons can be isolated in large amounts from several plant species and a myriad of biological activities has been related to these compounds. Studies on structure versus activity have showed that, in most cases, in kaurane diterpenes, activity increases with the increase of functionalization. Since naturally occurring kaurane diterpenes usually have limited functional groups to be used as targets for semi-synthetic modifications, production of more polar derivatives from kaurane diterpenes have been achieved mostly through the use of fungal biotransformations. In this review, selected examples the wonderful chemical diversity produced by fungi in kaurane diterpenes is presented. This diversity includes mainly hydroxylation of nearly all carbon atoms of the kaurane molecule, many of them carried out stereoselectively, as well as ring rearrangements, among other chemical modifications. Sources of starting materials, general biotransformation protocols employed, fungi with most consistent regioselectivity towards kaurane skeleton, as well as biological activities associated with starting materials and products are also described.

Biotransformations of diterpenoids and triterpenoids: a review

During the past few years, research has focused on the microbial transformation of a huge variety of organic compounds to obtain compounds of therapeutic and/or industrial interest. Microbial transformation is a useful tool for organic chemists looking for new compounds, as a consequence of the variety of reactions for natural products. Terpenoids are a large family of natural products exhibiting a wide range of biological activities such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, anti-HIV and anti-tumor effects; hypotensive agents; sweeteners; insecticides; anti-feedants; phytotoxic agents; perfumery intermediates; and plant growth hormones. This article describes the biotransformation products of diterpenoids and triterpenoids in a variety of biological media. Emphasis is placed on reporting the metabolites that may be of special interest as well as the practical aspects of this work in the field of microbial transformations. This review covers the literature from 1991 to 2012.

Biotransformation of diterpenes

Structural modification of the diterpenes to enhance their pharmaceutical relevance can be efficiently carried out by the application of biotransformational under mild reaction.

Degradation pathway of pentachlorophenol by Mucor plumbeus involves phase II conjugation and oxidation-reduction reactions

Environmental pollution by pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a critical concern worldwide and fungal bioremediation constitutes an elegant and environment-friendly solution. Mucorales from the Zygomycota phylum are often observed to be competitive in field conditions and Mucor plumbeus, in particular, can efficiently deplete PCP from media. The pathway for PCP degradation used by this fungus has not been investigated. In this study, PCP-derived metabolites were identified by liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, including tetra- and tri-chlorohydroquinones and phase II-conjugated metabolites. Amongst the latter are the previously reported glucose, sulfate and ribose conjugates, and identified for the first time in fungi sulfate-glucose conjugates. A PCP transformation pathway for M. plumbeus is proposed, which excludes the involvement of cytochrome P-450 and extracellular ligninolytic enzymes.

On the biotransformation of ent-trachylobane to ent-kaur-11-ene diterpenes

The microbiological transformation of trachinodiol (1) by the fungus Mucor plumbeus afforded the corresponding 1α, 2α, 3α, and 17-hydroxy derivatives (2-4 and 6), respectively. 7β,16α,18-Trihydroxy-ent-kaur-11-ene (sicanatriol) (5) was also obtained in this feeding. The biotransformation of 1 to give 5 by this fungus may occur by enzymatic abstraction of a hydrogen atom, allylic to the cyclopropane ring, and subsequent cleavage of this ring. This route is similar to that postulated by us in plants of the genus Sideritis, where ent-trachylobane and ent-kaur-11-ene diterpenes coexist. This study confirms that hydroxylation of diterpenes by M. plumbeus occurs preferably at ring A carbons.

Hydroxylation at carbon-2 of ent-16-oxo-17-norkauran-19-oic acid by Fusarium proliferatum

A new product of biotransformation of ent-16-oxo-17-norkauran-19-oic acid (1) by Fusarium proliferatum was isolated and identified as a 2beta-hydroxy derivative (2). The structure of 2 was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data interpretation and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The allelopathic activity of compound 2 was evaluated on the growth of radicals and shoots of Lactuca sativa (lettuce). This is the first time that fungal hydroxylation at position C-2 has been reported on an ent-kaurane diterpene skeleton.