Microbial transformation of dehydropinguisenol by Aspergillus sp

Two metabolites were obtained by microbial transformation of a furanosesquiterpene alcohol, dehydropinguisenol, using Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus cellulosae. Their structures were established as 10-oxo-lejeuneapinguisenol and lejeuneapinguisenol on the basis of their spectroscopic data. The latter compound was obtained after 4 and 9 days of incubation with A. cellulosae at 30 degrees C and 25 degrees C, respectively. Aspergillus niger produced both metabolites after 3 and 5 days incubation at 30 degrees C, respectively. A possible pathway for the formation of these compounds is discussed here together with their antimicrobial activity against A. niger and A. cellulosae.