Biotransformation of a Monoterpene Mixture by in vitro Cultures of Selected Conifer Species

Abstract

Biotransformation of monoterpenes is a mild and promising method for the production of stereospecific and regiospecific organic compounds. It is advantageous, especially for the preparation of substances with complicated structures and for those that need to be classed as “natural products“. Our study has focused on the biotransformation of a monoterpenic mixture, turpentine, by Picea abies and Taxus baccata suspension cultures. We identified the biotransformation products and compared the metabolite compositions of the tissue cultures. The major biotransformation products of turpentine were trans-pinocarveol, trans-verbenol, verbenone, myrtenol, α-terpineol and trans-sobrerol, which correspond with the products of biotransformation of the individual monoterpenes, α-pinene and β-pinene, by P. abies suspension culture.