Microbial biotransformation to obtain stilbene methylglucoside with GPR119 agonistic activity

Biotransformation and activity identification of icariin in human intestinal fungus Pichia occidentalis

Compared to icariin, icariside II demonstrates superior absorption and metabolic properties along with enhanced bioactivity. In this study, using DXM-Glc fluorescence assay, Pichia occidentalis was identified as an intestinal fungus expressing functional glucosidase, which could efficiently convert icariin to icariside II via glycosidic bond hydrolysis, revealing the fungus-mediated intestinal glycoside metabolism pathway and determining the optimal conditions for the conversion, including temperature, drug loading, pH and reaction time. Meanwhile, icariside II exhibited anti-glioma activity, and its mechanism of action involved the inhibition of the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway in glioma cells.

Chemistry and biology of natural stilbenes: an update

Covering: 2009 up to the end of 2023Stilbenes, an emblematic group of polyphenols, have attracted the attention of numerous researchers owing to their intriguing polycyclic architectures and diverse bioactivities. In this updated review, natural stilbenes were analysed, especially oligomeric stilbenes, which are an emblematic group of polyphenols that harbor intriguing polycyclic architectures and diverse bioactivities compared with those previously anticipated. Oligomeric stilbenes with unique skeletons comprise a large majority of natural stilbenes owing to their structural changes and different substitutions on the phenyl rings. These compounds can be promising sources of lead compounds for studying new drugs and medicines. In addition, the exploration of unusual structures of oligomeric stilbenes such as polyflavanostilbenes A and B, analysing their absolute stereochemistry, and improving their yield using synthetic biology methods have recently gained interest. This review provides a systematic overview of 409 new stilbenes, which were isolated and identified over time from January 2009 to December 2023, focusing on the classification and biomimetic syntheses of oligomeric stilbenes, in addition to presenting meaningful insights into their structural diversity and biological activities, which will inspire further investigations of biological activities, structure-activity relationships, and screening of drug candidates.

Conjugate Position of Glucuronide and Sulfate in Piceatannol Derivatives Affects the Stability and Hydrolytic Resistance of the Conjugate in Biological Matrices

Piceatannol, a stilbene compound, undergoes a comprehensive phase II metabolism mediated by UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) and sulfotransferases (SULTs) in humans. Despite their well-documented beneficial effects on health, their detailed pharmacokinetic fate, including the metabolite structure and properties, is poorly understood. Thus, we determined the structure of seven glucuronides and six sulfates transformed from piceatannol and its methylated derivatives in recombinant yeast cells expressing UGTs or SULTs. We evaluated their properties in human and rat plasma samples. The conjugate that was substituted at the 3'- or 4'-catecholic hydroxy moiety exhibited increased stability. The sulfatase-mediated hydrolysis assay results in incomplete digestion or compound degradation of certain sulfates, suggesting a potential risk of underestimation by using indirect quantification methods. These findings emphasize the importance of an authentic standard for accurate pharmacokinetic studies of phase II metabolites that will be useful for understanding the mechanisms underlying the functional contribution of piceatannol in the body.

Advancements in enzymatic reaction-mediated microbial transformation

Enzymatic reaction-mediated microbial transformation has emerged as a promising technology with significant potential in various industries. These technologies offer the ability to produce enzymes on a large scale, optimize their functionality, and enable sustainable production processes. By utilizing microbial hosts and manipulating their genetic makeup, enzymes can be synthesized efficiently and tailored to meet specific industrial requirements. This leads to enhanced enzyme performance and selectivity, facilitating the development of novel processes and the production of valuable compounds. Moreover, microbial transformation and biosynthesis offer sustainable alternatives to traditional chemical methods, reducing environmental impact and promoting greener production practices. Microbial transformations enrich drug candidate diversity and enhance active ingredient potency, benefiting the pharmaceutical industry. Continued advancements in genetic engineering and bioprocess optimization drive further innovation and application development in Enzymatic reaction-mediated microbial transformation. The integration of AI for predicting enzymatic reactions and optimizing pathways marks a promising direction for future research. In summary, these technologies have the potential to revolutionize several industries by providing cost-effective, sustainable solutions.

Two new bibenzyl methylglucosides as SIRT3 activators obtained through microbial transformation

Microbial transformation of dihydroresveratrol (DHRSV) using Beauveria bassiana has produced two new methylglucosylated derivatives of DHRSV (1 and 2), whose structures were characterized as 4'-O-(4″-O-methyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-dihydroresveratrol (4'-O-MG DHRSV, 1) and 3-O-(4″-O-methyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-dihydroresveratrol (3-O-MG DHRSV, 2) on the basis of spectroscopic methods. They showed moderate SIRT3 agonistic activity, and compound 2 exhibited the best deacetylation of 406.63% at 10 μM. The activity of 2 increased by 3.12-fold compared with that of DHRSV, since 2 performed better in molecular docking assay (GScore -8.445).