Biotransformation of hydrocortisone succinate with whole cell cultures of Monascus purpureus and Cunninghamella echinulata.

Hydrocortisone succinate (1) is a synthetic anti-inflammatory drug and key intermediate in the synthesis of other steroidal drugs. This work is based on the fungal biotransformation of 1, using Monascus purpureus and Cunninghamella echinulata strains. Comopound 1 was transformed into four metabolites, identified as hydrocortisone (2), 11β-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3,17-dione (3), Δ-cortienic acid (4), and hydrocortisone-17-succinate (5), obtained through side chain cleavage, hydrolysis, dehydrogenation, and oxidation reactions.