Efficient production of the flavoring agent zingerone and of both (R)- and (S)-zingerols via green fungal biocatalysis. Comparative antifungal activities between enantiomers

Int J Mol Sci. 2014 Dec 1;15(12):22042-58. doi: 10.3390/ijms151222042.

Abstract

Zingerone (1) and both chiral forms of zingerol (2) were obtained from dehydrozingerone (3) by biotransformation with filamentous fungi. The bioconversion of 3 with A. fumigatus, G. candidum or R. oryzae allowed the production of 1 as the sole product at 8 h and in 81%-90% at 72 h. In turn, A. flavus, A. niger, C. echinulata, M. circinelloides and P. citrinum produced 1 at 8 h, but at 72 h alcohol 2 was obtained as the major product (74%-99%). Among them, A. niger and M. circinelloides led to the anti-Prelog zingerol (R)-2 in only one step with high conversion rates and ee. Instead, C. echinulata and P. citrinum allowed to obtain (S)-2 in only one step, with high conversion rates and ee. Both chiral forms of 2 were tested for antifungal properties against a panel of clinically important fungi, showing that (R)-, but not (S)-2 possessed antifungal activity.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Biocatalysis / drug effects*
  • Biotransformation / drug effects
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Esters / chemistry
  • Flavoring Agents / chemistry
  • Flavoring Agents / metabolism*
  • Flavoring Agents / pharmacology
  • Fungi / drug effects
  • Fungi / metabolism*
  • Guaiacol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Guaiacol / chemistry
  • Guaiacol / metabolism
  • Guaiacol / pharmacology
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Esters
  • Flavoring Agents
  • zingerone
  • Guaiacol