Unprecedented derivatization of ferulic acid through selective methoxylation by Aspergillus brasiliensis ATCC 16404

Abstract

Ferulic acid (FA) is a natural hydroxycinnamic acid widely found in medicinal and edible plants. Several experts have reported the biological potential of FA, including antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The use of microorganisms in the derivatization of natural products is a useful and advantageous approach to the achievement of high value-added compounds. In order to access chemical derivatives, we conducted the biotransformation of FA by Aspergillus brasiliensis ATCC 16404 for 5 d. In the second day of fermentation, the FA was converted into the new (E)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-methoxyacrylic acid. This is the first time that the extended π-conjugation remained in the chemical structure after the biotransformation of FA. The cytotoxicities of FA and its derivative were evaluated. The biotransformation yielded a derivative less toxic than the parent compound.

Keywords:

• Ferulic acid derivative
• biotransformation by fungi
• brine shrimp bioactivity

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Prof. Dr. Jorge Maurício David (IQ-UFBA) and to the Prof. Dr. Wilson Araújo Lopes (IQ-UFBA) for all support to carry out the experiments. We also thank CNPq (“Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico”) for the scholarship.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.