Biotransformation of the fungistatic sesquiterpenoid ginsenol by Botrytis cinerea

Abstract

The antifungal properties of ginsenol (1) have been determined. The biotransformation of this fungistatic sesquiterpenoid by the plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea gave the 8- and 9-hydroxy derivatives (5 and 3) as the major metabolites and the 6α- and 10β-hydroxy (8 and 7) and 8- and 9-oxo derivatives (6 and 4) as minor metabolites. The structure and stereochemistry of the major compound 3 were established by X-ray crystallography.