Bioactive metabolites from biotransformation of paeonol by the white-rot basidiomycete Coriolus versicolor.

Biotransformation of paeonol (1) with the white-rot basidiomycete Coriolus versicolor afforded two metabolites, 2,4-dihydroxyacetophenone (2) and 2,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxyacetophenone (3), which were identified by spectroscopic methods. Compound 3 showed higher antioxidative, antibacterial, antifungal activities than 1 or 2. The results demonstrate for the first time that C. versicolor has the capacities to catalyze hydroxylation and demethylation reactions on the aromatic compound.