MICROBIAL MODELS OF MAMMALIAN METABOLISM - FUNGAL METABOLISM OF PHENOLIC AND NONPHENOLIC P-CYMENE-RELATED DRUGS AND PRODRUGS .2. METABOLITES OF NONPHENOLIC DERIVATIVES

A cymene-derived drug, -(o-ethoxyphenyl)piperazin-1'-yl]ethyloxy-p-cym ene (B1178), is not significantly metabolized by fungal microorganisms . On the contrary, one of its metabolites in rat, 3-(piperazin-1'-yl)e thoxy-p-cymene (B1071), is quantitatively converted by Cunninghamella echinulata NRRL 3655 into two hydroxylated products: the corresponding phenol derivative and a benzylic alcohol derivative. Other strains, s uch as Beauveria bassiana ATCC 7159 and Mortierella isabellina MMP 108 , produce exclusively an N-acetyl derivative in high yield. Results ob tained are discussed on the grounds of relative hydrophobicity of subs trates vs. fungi metabolism and detoxification capabilities.