Biotransformation potential of the R-(+)-limonene by endophytic fungi strain associated with Amazonian fruit Malpighia emarginata DC

Abstract

This study aims to offer an account of the biotransformation of limonene through the endophytic fungi strains associated with the Amazonian fruit Malpighia emarginata. The fungal biotransformation was executed in flasks containing the substrate R-(+)-limonene in a mineral medium, which was further incubated at 28 °C on a rotary shaker (120 rpm) for 120 h. Samples of each culture were taken every 24 hours, extracted with ethyl acetate, and analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry with the National Institute of Standards and Technology database. In this study with five endophytic fungi strains, only Penicillium sp. AF- LAB4 was considered a potential biocatalyst found in the screening due to its capacity to use the R-(+)-limonene as the single carbon and energy source in a mineral medium since they eventually accumulated interesting compound as limonene-1,2-diol (128.10 μL/L) after 48 to 120 h of reaction. This achievement is important and supports the development of the production of natural aromas and demonstrates the potential of using this endophytic fungus strain from the fruit M. emarginata, as a new biocatalyst.