Production of 4-androstene-3,17-dione and 1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione from rice germ and wheat germ extracts by Mycobacterium sp.
OBJECTIVE
To study the biotransformation of phytosterol and phytosterol-containing rice germ and wheat germ ethanolic extracts to produce 4-androstene-3,17-dione (AD) and 1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione (ADD) by Mycobacterium sp. DSM 2966 using phytosterol to hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (2:1, 1:1 and 1:2 mol/mol) and 2 % (w/v) Tween 80 as solubilizing agents.


RESULTS
A maximum yield of 180 ± 27 mg AD l(-1) and 31 ± 11.4 mg ADD l(-1) with a total conversion of 65 % (day 12) was obtained using 1 g phytosterol l(-1) and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (2 : 1 mol/mol) with 2 % (w/v) Tween 80 in the fermentation medium. The most appropriate conditions for rice germ extract and wheat germ extract which gave the maximum conversion of 22 and 43 % (day 14) were obtained by using 2 % (w/v) Tween 80.


CONCLUSIONS
Phytosterol and wheat germ are effective sources for AD and ADD production while rice germ required further development. Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (2 :1 mol/mol) and/or 2 % (w/v) Tween 80 in the biotransformation process could improve AD and ADD yields, depending on substrates and biotransformation conditions.
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand. aurasorns@nu.ac.th.|Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Research Unit, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand. aurasorns@nu.ac.th.
Aurasorn
A
Saraphanchotiwitthaya
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Research Unit, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand.|Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand.
Pattana
P
Sripalakit
D000730:Androstadienes / Q000378:metabolism*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000378:metabolism*; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000378:metabolism*; D012275:Oryza / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000378:metabolism*; D014908:Triticum / Q000737:chemistry*
D000730:Androstadienes; D010936:Plant Extracts; C006573:1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione; D000735:Androstenedione
1,4-Androstadiene-3,17-dione (ADD); 4-Androstene-3,17-dione (AD); Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD); Rice germ; Sterol transformation; Wheat germ