Biotransformation of (+)-androst-4-ene-3,17-dione.

Fermentation of (+)-androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (1) with Curvularia lunata for 10 days yielded five oxidative and reductive metabolites, androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (2), 17beta-hydroxyandrosta-1,4-dien-3-one (3), 11alpha-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione (4), 11alpha,17beta-dihydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one (5) and 15alpha-hydroxyandrosta-1,4-dien-17-one (6). The structures of these metabolites were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic techniques. These microbially transformed products were assayed against the clinically important enzymes, tyrosinase and prolyl endopeptidase.