Biotransformation of lantadene A (22β-angeloyloxy-3-oxoolean-12-en-28- oic acid), the pentacyclic triterpenoid, by Alcaligenes faecalis

A bacterial strain capable of biotransformation of lantadene A (22β- angeloyloxy-3-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid), the pentacyclic hepatotoxin of lantana (Lantana camara var. aculeata) has been isolated from soil using lantadene A as the sole carbon source. The organism is Gram negative, rod shaped, motile, catalase positive and has been identified as Alcaligenes faecalis. The isolate has been found to be specific for lantadene A and did not utilize lantadene B. In studies using sucrose as an additional carbon source, A. faecalis elicited biotransformation of lantadene A to its trans isomer 22β-tigloyloxy-3-oxoolean-12-en-28-oic acid, designated as lantadene X and two other minor metabolites which could not be isolated in pure state.