Microbial Transformation of β-Phellandrene

Derivatives of natural and aromatic compounds obtained by biotransformation constitute an important resource for natural pharmaceutical, fragrance and aroma ingredients or active compounds. Monoterpenes and their new metabolites are very important resources in such applications and uses. At the present study the monoterpene β-phellandrene was biotransformed by fungal whole cell cultures for the first time to best of our knowledge. The substrate β-phellandrene was primarily isolated and purified from its natural source Angelica archangelica seed essential oil (the main compound of essential oil 78%) and then subjected to biotransformations by Corynespora cassiicola, Fusarium heterosporum, Aspergillus alliaceus, Yarrowia lipolytica, Alternaria alternata fungal cultures. As a result cis-p-Menth-2-en-7-ol and 4-isopropylcyclohexene-2-on (syn. cryptone) were determined as metabolites by using chromato-spectral methods.

Key words: β-phellandrene, biotransformation, monoterpenes