Biotransformation of androgenic steroid mesterolone with Cunninghamella blakesleeana and Macrophomina phaseolina

Abstract Fermentation of mesterolone ( 1 ) with Cunninghamella blakesleeana yielded four new metabolites, 1 α -methyl-1 β ,11 β ,17 β -trihydroxy-5 α -androstan-3-one ( 2 ), 1 α -methyl-7 α ,11 β ,17 β -trihydroxy-5 α -androstan-3-one ( 3 ), 1 α -methyl-1 β ,6 α ,17 β -trihydroxy-5 α -androstan-3-one ( 4 ) and 1 α -methyl-1 β ,11 α ,17 β -trihydroxy-5 α -androstan-3-one ( 5 ), along with three known metabolites, 1 α -methyl-11 α ,17 β -dihydroxy-5 α -androstan-3-one ( 6 ), 1 α -methyl-6 α ,17 β -dihydroxy-5 α -androstan-3-one ( 7 ) and 1 α -methyl-7 α ,17 β -dihydroxy-5 α -androstan-3-one ( 8 ). Biotransformation of 1 with Macrophomina phaseolina also yielded a new metabolite, 1 α -methyl, 17 β -hydroxy-5 α -androstan-3,6-dione ( 9 ). The isolated metabolites were subjected to various in vitro biological assays, such as anti-cancer, inhibition of α-glucosidase, and phosphodiesterase-5 enzymes and oxidative brust. However, no significant results were observed. This is the first report of biotransformation of 1 with C. blakesleeana and M. phaseolina .