Conversion of Deoxypodophyllotoxin to Podophyllotoxin-related Compounds by Microbes

Abstract

Penicillium F-0543 (unidentified) converted deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPT), a major constituent (2.4%) of seeds of Hemandia ovigera L., to epipodophyllotoxin (EPT), which is the basic skeleton of the excellent anticancer agent, etoposide, in the high yield of 100%. Although the conversion rate varied, eight type cultures of Penicillium sp. tested also converted DPT to EPT. Three species of Aspergillus niger converted DPT to PT, but the yield were very low. Furthermore, it was found that many microbes examined converted DPT to a non-active substance, deoxypicropodophyllin (DPP), which is widely distributed in higher plants.