Microbial transformation of ruscogenins by Cunninghamella blakesleeana

Abstract

The natural product drug discovery process involves the isolation of new molecules from natural sources, investigation of their biological activities, and semi-synthesis of more active analogs. Microbial transformation plays a vital role in the preparation of new oxygenated derivatives, and has frequently been used as microbial model of mammalian drug metabolism [1,2]. It has been proved that the hydroxylation of steroidal compounds is catalyzed by cytochrome P450 monoxygenase systems, which exist in all eucaryotic microorganisms [3]. Cunninghamella genus has been widely used in transformation of steroids [4,5]. The major steroidal saponins of Ruscus aculeatus, ruscogenin and neoruscogenin, has strong anti-inflammatory activities, acts as an anti-elastase, and decreases capillary permeability [6]. In the present study microbial transformation of Neoruscogenin:Ruscogenin (78:22) mixture by Cunninghamella blakesleeana fungus afforded three new compounds. The structures were elucidated by LC-MS, 1D- and 2D NMR analyses as shown below. Mainly oxydation products were obtained from neoruscogenin by C. blakesleana. As far as can be ascertained from the literature, this is the first microbial transformation study performed on neoruscogenin.