| 摘要: | Two filamentous fungi, Cunninghamella bainieri ATCC 9244 and Aspergillus niger BCRC 32720, were used to investigate the biotransformation of isosteviol lactone (4α-carboxy-13α-hydroxy-13,16-seco-ent-19-norbeyeran-16-oic acid 13,16-lactone) (2), which was derived by reacting isosteviol (ent-16-oxobeyeran-19-oic acid) (1) with m-chloroperbenzoic acid. Incubation of 2 with C. bainieri afforded metabolites 3–6, which involved isomerization, hydroxylation, and ring cleavage reactions followed by oxidation and selective O-methylation. Incubation of 2 with A. niger afforded mono-, di-, and trihydroxylated metabolites 3, 4, and 7–12. The structures of 3–12 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, and structures 3, 4, and 6 were confirmed by X-ray crystallographic studies. Compounds 2–6, 8–10, and 12 were assayed as androgen agonists using an ARE (androgen response element)-mediated luciferase reporter gene assay. Compounds 3, 6, and 10 were significantly active, with 6 showing more activity than testosterone. |
