Biotransformation of clerodane diterpenoids by Rhizopus stolonifer and antibacterial activity of resulting metabolites.

Microbial transformation of clerodane lactone (1) by a plant pathogen fungus, Rhizopus stolonifer, resulted in the production of metabolites 3 and 4. While incubation of clerodane methyl ester (2) by R. stolonifer yielded metabolites 5-8. The structures of the transformed products were determined by the spectroscopic techniques and compounds 4, 7 and 8 were found. The antibacterial activity of clerodane diterpenoids 1 and 2 and their metabolites 3-8 were also studied. The metabolites 3-7 showed moderate activities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms. While metabolite 8 showed a moderate activity against Gram-positive organisms and a good activity against Gram-negative organisms.