Microbial transformation of hydrocortisone by two fungal species Fusarium fujikuroi PTCC 5144 and Rhizomucor pusillus PTCC 5134

Abstract

This paper examines the biotransformation of hydrocortisone (1) by Fusarium fujikuroi and Rhizomucor pusillus. These species have not previously been tested for hydrocortisone biotransformation. The metabolites produced during hydrocortisone biotransformation by these two fungi were 11β,17α,20β,21-tetrahydroxypregn-4-en-3-one (2) and 11 β-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3,17-dione (3). Chemical structures were determined by spectroscopic methods. A time course study revealed that the disappearance of hydrocortisone was accompanied by the formation of metabolites 2 and 3. Metabolite 2 was produced as the major metabolite with high yield but the transformation to metabolite 3 was considerably lower, as determined by HPLC.

Keywords::

• biotransformation
• hydrocortisone
• fungi
• Fusarium fujikuroi
• Rhizomucor pusillus

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to Iran National Science Foundation (INSF), Tehran, Iran.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no declarations of interest. This work was supported by Iran National Science Foundation (INSF), Tehran, Iran. However, the authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.