Planta Med 2008; 74 - PG73
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1084825

Biotransformation of onopordopicrin, a sesquiterpene lactone, by Aspergillus niger

A Esmaeili 1, A Rustaiyan 2, N Moazami 3
  • 1Department of Chemical Engineering, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, P. O. Box 19585–936 Tehran, Iran
  • 2Department of Chemistry, Science & Research Campus, Islamic Azad University, P. O. Box 14515–775, Tehran, Iran
  • 3Department of Biotechnology, Iran Research Organization for Science and Technology, Engelab Ave., Forsat St., No.71 P. O. Box 15815–3538, Tehran, 15819, Iran

The biotransformation of sesquiterpene lactones from Aspergillus niger was studied previously [1]. In the course of our work related to compounds extracted from the aerial parts of Onopordon leptolopis, Asteraceae [2], we studied the biotransformation of onopordopicrin by Aspergillus niger which afforded 11α,13-dihydro-onopordopicrin (1), 11β,13-dihydro-onopordopicrin (2) and 3-hydroxy-11α,13-dihydro onopordopicrin (3). The last compound (3) again submitted to biotransformation by Aspergillus niger gave 3,14-dihydroxy –11α,13-dihydro-onopordopicrin (4). Onopordopicrin and related compounds were identified by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, mass spectroscopy and IR spectroscopy.

References: 1. Hoshimoto, T. et al. (2001) Heterocycles 54: 529–559.

2. Rustaiyan, A., et al. (1979) Phytochemistry 18: 883–884.