[Degradation of (-)-ephedrine by Arthrobacter globiformis (author's transl)].

A bacterium which grows on and completely degrades ephedrine as the only source of carbon was isolated from soil. This bacterium was identified as Arthrobacter globiformis. From the culture medium the following metabolites were isolated: 1-hydroxy-1-phenyl acetone, benzoic acid, pyrocatechol, cis-cis-muconic acid and methylamine. The mechanism of metabolism is discussed and compared with that in mammals.