Microbial transformation of 18beta-glycyrrhetinic acid by Cunninghamella elegans and Fusarium lini, and lipoxygenase inhibitory activity of transformed products.

The microbial transformation of 18beta-glycyrrhetinic acid (1) by Cunninghamella elegans afforded a metabolite, 3beta,7beta-dihydroxy-11-oxo-olean-12-en-30-oic acid (2), while fermentation of 1 with Fusarium lini afforded a metabolite, 3,11-dioxo-olean-12-en-30-oic acid (3). Compound 3 exhibited a potent lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitory activity. The structures of these metabolites were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic techniques.

New butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory triterpenes from Salvia santolinifolia.

Slavins A (1) and B (2), the new amyrin type triterpenes, have been isolated from the chloroform soluble fraction of Salvia santolinifolia and assigned structures on the basis of spectral studies including 2D NMR. Both the compounds displayed inhibitory potential against the enzyme butyrylcholinesterase.