Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Anaerobic Protein Purification and Kinetic Analysis via Oxygen Electrode for Studying DesB Dioxygenase Activity and Inhibition
Published on: October 3, 2018
Hydroxylation of diosgenin by Absidia coerulea
Ying Zhao1, Ling-Mei Sun, Xiao-Ning Wang
1Department of Natural Products Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, No. 44 West Wenhua Road, Jinan 250012, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Microbial transformation of diosgenin (1) using Absidia coerulea yielded five new polar metabolites, which were identified as (25R)-spirost-5-en-3 beta,7 beta,12 beta,25 alpha-tetrol (2), (25S)-spirost-5-en-3 beta,7 alpha,12 beta,25 beta-tetrol (3), (25S)-spirost-5-en-3 beta,7 beta,12 beta,25 beta-tetrol (4), (25R)-spirost-5-en-3 beta,7 alpha,12 beta,25 alpha-tetrol (5), and (25R)-spirost-5-en-3 beta,7 beta,12 beta,24 beta-tetrol (6). Their structures were established on the basis of mass spectrometry and multi-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. The characteristic transformations observed were C-7 alpha, C-7 beta, C-12 beta, C-24 beta, C-25 alpha, and C-25 beta hydroxylation. The cytotoxicity of compounds 1-6 was evaluated against the human myelogenous leukemia K562 cell line and squamous cell carcinoma KB parental cell lines. Compounds 2-6 exhibited weak cytotoxicity against K562 and KB cells and were less potent than the parent compound 1.
Related Concept Videos
Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Osmium Tetraoxide
Oxidation of Alkenes: Anti Dihydroxylation with Peroxy Acids
Preparation of Diols and Pinacol Rearrangement
The reaction begins with transferring a proton from the acid catalyst to one of the hydroxyl groups, producing an oxonium ion.
Oxidation of Phenols to Quinones
o-hydroxy phenols are oxidized to o-quinones and p-hydroxy phenols to p-quinones. Such redox reactions involve the transfer of two electrons and two protons. The reversible redox property is crucial in...
Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Potassium Permanganate
UV–Vis Spectroscopy: Woodward–Fieser Rules