Transformation of Artemisinin by Cunninghamella elegans

Author(s)

Igor A. Parshikov, University of Mississippi
K. M. Muraleedharan, University of Mississippi
Mitchell A. Avery, University of Mississippi
John S. Williamson, University of DaytonFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-2004

Publication Source

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology

Abstract

Semi-synthetic derivatives of the anti-malarial drug artemisinin hold great promise in the search for an effective and economical treatment of chloroquine-resistant forms of malaria. Unfortunately, synthetic functionalization of the artemisinin skeleton is often tedious and/or impractical. We seek to utilize 7β-hydroxyartemisinin, obtained from microbial transformation, as a semi-synthetic precursor for the synthesis of novel 7β-substituted artemisinin anti-malarial agents. Here we employ liquid cultures of Cunninghamella elegans as a means for the rational and economical bioconversion of artemisinin to 7β-hydroxyartemisinin in 78.6% yield. In addition, there were three other bioconversion products: 7β-hydroxy-9α-artemisinin (6.0%), 4α-hydroxy-1-deoxoartemisinin (5.4%), and 6β-hydroxyartemisinin (6.5%).

Inclusive pages

782–786

ISBN/ISSN

0175-7598

Comments

Permission documentation is on file.

Copyright

Copyright © 2004, Springer-Verlag

Publisher

Springer

Volume

64

Issue

6

Peer Reviewed

yes

eCommons Citation

Parshikov, Igor A.; Muraleedharan, K. M.; Avery, Mitchell A.; and Williamson, John S., "Transformation of Artemisinin by Cunninghamella elegans" (2004). Office for Research Publications and Presentations. 4.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/ofr_pub/4