Production of anti-cancer agent using microbial biotransformation

Molecules. 2014 Oct 16;19(10):16684-92. doi: 10.3390/molecules191016684.

Abstract

Microbial biotransformation is a great model system to produce drugs and biologically active compounds. In this study, we elucidated the fermentation and production of an anti-cancer agent from a microbial process for regiospecific hydroxylation of resveratrol. Among the strains examined, a potent strain showed high regiospecific hydroxylation activity to produce piceatannol. In a 5 L (w/v 3 L) jar fermentation, this wild type Streptomyces sp. in the batch system produced 205 mg of piceatannol (i.e., 60% yields) from 342 mg of resveratrol in 20 h. Using the product, an in vitro anti-cancer study was performed against a human cancer cell line (HeLa). It showed that the biotransformed piceatannol possessed a significant anticancer activity. This result demonstrates that a biotransformation screening method might be of therapeutic interest with respect to the identification of anti-cancer drugs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / metabolism*
  • Biotransformation*
  • Fermentation
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Hydroxylation
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Resveratrol
  • Stilbenes / metabolism*
  • Streptomyces / classification
  • Streptomyces / growth & development*
  • Streptomyces / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Stilbenes
  • 3,3',4,5'-tetrahydroxystilbene
  • Resveratrol