Biotransformation of artemisinin by Aspergillus niger

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2015 Apr;99(8):3443-6. doi: 10.1007/s00253-015-6464-x. Epub 2015 Feb 25.

Abstract

Biotransformation of artemisinin (1) by Aspergillus niger was investigated. During 12 days at 28 °C and pH 6.0, A. niger transformed artemisinin into four products. They were identified as 3β-hydroxy-4,12-epoxy-1-deoxyartemisinin (2), artemisinin G (3), 3,13-epoxyartemisinin (4), and 4α-hydroxy-1-deoxyartemisinin (5). Products 2 and 4 are new compounds and are being reported here for the first time. The product 4 contains a 3,13-epoxy structure. This is the first report of epoxidation of artemisinin using microbial strains. The product 4 still has an intact peroxide bridge and therefore can be used as a scaffold for further structural modification using chemical and biological methods in the search for new antimalarial drugs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Artemisinins / metabolism*
  • Aspergillus niger / metabolism*
  • Biotransformation
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Artemisinins
  • artemisinin