Microbial transformation of diosgenin to diosgenone by Wickerhamomyces anomalus JQ-1 obtained from Naxi traditional Jiu Qu

Abstract

Diosgenone [(20S,22R,25R)-spirost-4-en-3-one, C27H40O3] has been considered as a potential therapeutic alternative remedy for malaria. An efficient and economical approach of microbial transformation with diosgenin to diosgenone by the yeast strain Wickerhamomyces anomalus JQ-1 from Naxi traditional Jiu Qu was developed in this study. Chromatographic analysis confirmed that 85% of 0.1 mM diosgenin was transformed to diosgenone within 72 h. This research demonstrates that diosgenin could be converted to diosgenone through two-step pathway including 3β-hydroxyl oxidation and double bond isomerization rather than through one-step pathway, which prompted a further inference that the oxidation activity in W. anomalus JQ-1 has the same function with the Oppenauer-type oxidation which can convert diosgenin into diosgenone. Gaining specific functional strains from traditional fermented products will be a potential direction and ethnobotanical researches could provide helps with discovery and utilization of microbial resources.