Fungal Genomics & Biology
Open Access

Abstract

Biotechnological Transformation of Citronellene and Citronellol: By Fungus Rhizopus oryzae (ATCC 9363) Leading to Interesting Conversions through Oxidations and Rearrangements

Sujata V. Bhat*, Sayali J. Mestry and Manisha O. Gupta

In this study, microbial transformation of monoterpenes (-)-citronellol, (±) citronellene (dihydromyrcene) using Rhizopus oryzae in a Potato Dextrose Broth (PDB) medium was investigated. The major bioconversion product of citronellene was found to be dihydroxycitronellene, which is formed by dihydroxylation of the terminal 6, 7-double bond. On the contrary, (3S)-citronellol yielded 7-hydroxy citronellol as a major product. Several minor products including rose oxide, rose glycol, isopulegol, artemisia-triene, 1, 8-nonan-diol-8-methyl, citronellyl phenyl acetate were obtained from (-)-citronellol. Whereas camphene, camphor, α -pinene, Isopulegone, terpinene-4-ol, and 1, 8-nonan-diol-8-methyl are the minor products obtained from (±) -citronellene. Hence, dihydroxylations and hydroxylation at the selective position of a diene with the help of microbes take place in a single step compared to synthetic routes. Our study emphasizes the role of Rhizopus oryzae in carrying out various kinds of reactions and rearrangement of the molecules which by synthetic route is tedious. The minor products were identified by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis and matching fragmentations with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) library. Some metabolites produced have valuable perfumery application.

Published Date: 2023-02-23; Received Date: 2023-01-23