Microbial-Catalyzed Biotransformation of Multifunctional Triterpenoids Derived from Phytonutrients

Abstract

Microbial-catalyzed biotransformations have considerable potential for the generation of an enormous variety of structurally diversified organic compounds, especially natural products with complex structures like triterpenoids. They offer efficient and economical ways to produce semi-synthetic analogues and novel lead molecules. Microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi could catalyze chemo-, regio- and stereospecific hydroxylations of diverse triterpenoid substrates that are extremely difficult to produce by chemical routes. During recent years, considerable research has been performed on the microbial transformation of bioactive triterpenoids, in order to obtain biologically active molecules with diverse structures features. This article reviews the microbial modifications of tetranortriterpenoids, tetracyclic triterpenoids and pentacyclic triterpenoids.

Biotransformation of oleanolic and maslinic methyl esters by Rhizomucor miehei CECT 2749

“…These processes do not generate toxic waste products, and the compounds achieved can be labelled as a ''natural source'' (Shah et al, 2014;Muffler et al, 2011;Parra et al, 2009;Simeo and Sinisterra, 2009).…”

New Triterpenoid from Novel Triterpenoid 15-O-Glycosylation on Ganoderic Acid A by Intestinal Bacteria of Zebrafish

“…Moreover, modifications of the functional groups of the precursors through microbial biotransformations sometimes improve the bioactivities of the precursor compounds. Due to the many bioactivities of triterpenoids, some researchers have focused on the study of triterpenoid biotransformations to search for novel bioactive triterpenoids [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Among various biotransformations, glycosylation (the attachment of a bulky sugar group to triterpenoids) could improve physical and chemical stability and aqueous solubility and reduce the cytotoxicity of natural triterpenoids.…”

Biotransformation of Ganoderic Acid A to 3-O-Acetyl Ganoderic Acid A by Soil-isolated Streptomyces sp.

“…Since triterpenoids have many bioactivities, many researchers have focused on examining triterpenoids biotransformations [11][12][13][14]. Interestingly, this was the first study to find 3-O-acetylation in the microbial biotransformation of triterpenoids.…”

“…Precursor compounds were biotransformed by microorganisms or enzymes to form new compounds. Additionally, some microbial transformations can modify the functional groups of precursors to improve the bioactivities of the precursor compounds [11][12][13][14]. For example, soy isoflavone daidzein was hydroxylated by Aspergillus oryzae to form 6-hyroxydaidzein or 8-hydroxydaidzein.…”