Microbial transformations of diosgenin by the white-rot basidiomycete Coriolus versicolor.

Microbial transformation of diosgenin (3β-hydroxy-5-spirostene) using white-rot fungus Coriolus versicolor afforded four previously unreported polyhydroxylated steroids, 25(R)-spirost-5-en-3β,7α,15α,21-tetraol (5), 25(R)-spirost-5-en-3β,7β,12β,21-tetrol (6), (25R)-spirost-5-en-3β,7α,12β,21-tetraol (7), and (25R)-spirost-5-en-3β,7β,11α,21-tetraol (8), along with three known congeners, 25(R)-spirost-5-en-3β,7β-diol (2), 25(R)-spirost-5-en-3β,7β,21-triol (3), and 25(R)-spirost-5-en-3β,7β,12β-triol (4). These structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR as well as HR-ESIMS analysis. In addition, we provide evidence for two new microbial hydroxylations of diosgenin: C-21 primary carbon hydroxylation and C-15 hydroxylation. The 3β-hydroxyl group and double bond in the B-ring of diosgenin were found to be important structural determinants for their activity.