title: Microbial metabolism studies of the antimalarial sesquiterpene artemisinin.
abstract: Microbial metabolism of the sesquiterpene lactone antimalarial drug artemisinin [1] was studied. Screening studies have shown a number of microorganisms capable of metabolizing artemisinin [1]. Scale-up fermentation with Nocardia corallina (ATCC 19070) and Penicillium chrysogenum (ATCC 9480) have resulted in the production of two major microbial metabolites that have been characterized with the use of 2D-nmr techniques. These metabolites have been identified as deoxyartemisinin [2] and 3 alpha-hydroxydeoxyartemisinin [3].
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Mississippi, University 38677.
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: elSohly
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Croom
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Hufford
mesh_terms: D000962:Antimalarials / Q000378:metabolism*; D037621:Artemisinins; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D003470:Culture Media; D005285:Fermentation; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D003470:Culture Media; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C055261:deoxyartemisinin; C060433:3-hydroxydeoxyartemisinin; C031327:artemisinin