Biotransformation of betulinic and betulonic acids by fungi

Phytochemistry. 2007 Mar;68(6):834-9. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2006.12.007. Epub 2007 Jan 26.

Abstract

Betulinic acid (1), a triterpenoid found in many plant species, has attracted attention due to its important pharmacological properties, such as anti-cancer and anti-HIV activities. The closely related, betulonic acid (2) also has similar properties. In order to obtain derivatives potentially useful for detailed pharmacological studies, both compounds were submitted to incubations with selected microorganisms. In this work, both were individually metabolized by the fungi Arthrobotrys, Chaetophoma and Dematium, isolated from the bark of Platanus orientalis as well as with Colletotrichum, obtained from corn leaves; such fungal transformations are quite rare in the scientific literature. Biotransformations with Arthrobotrys converted betulonic acid (2) into 3-oxo-7beta-hydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (3), 3-oxo-7beta,15alpha-dihydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (4) and 3-oxo-7beta,30-dihydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (5); Colletotrichum converted betulinic acid (1) into 3-oxo-15alpha-hydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic (6) acid whereas betulonic acid (2) was converted into the same product and 3-oxo-7beta,15alpha-dihydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (4); Chaetophoma converted betulonic acid (2) into 3-oxo-25-hydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (7) and both Chaetophoma and Dematium converted betulinic acid (1) into betulonic acid (2). Those fungi, therefore, are useful for mild, selective oxidations of lupane substrates at positions C-3, C-7, C-15, C-25 and C-30.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ascomycota / metabolism
  • Betulinic Acid
  • Biotransformation
  • Colletotrichum / metabolism
  • Fungi / metabolism*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Oleanolic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Oleanolic Acid / chemistry
  • Oleanolic Acid / metabolism
  • Pentacyclic Triterpenes
  • Triterpenes / chemistry
  • Triterpenes / metabolism*

Substances

  • Pentacyclic Triterpenes
  • Triterpenes
  • betulonic acid
  • Oleanolic Acid
  • Betulinic Acid