Preparative-scale fermentation of the known C-nor-D-homosteroidal jerveratr
um alkaloid jervine with Cunninghamella elegans (ATCC 9245) has resulted in
the isolation of (-)-jervinone as the major metabolite. In addition, C. el
egans ATCC 9245 was able to epimerize C-3 of jervine, producing 3-epi-jervi
ne. This epimerization reaction was similar to that reported for tomatidine
, the known spirosolane-type Solanum alkaloid. The structure elucidation of
both metabolites was based primarily on 1D- and 2D-NMR analyses. (C) 2000
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