Regioselective ortho-Hydroxylations of Flavonoids by Yeast

Natural flavonoids, such as naringenin, hesperetin, chrysin, apigenin, luteolin, quercetin, epicatechin, and biochanin A, were subjected to microbiological transformations by Rhodotorula glutinis. Yeast was able to regioselectively C-8 hydroxylate hesperetin, luteolin, and chrysin. Naringenin was transformed to 8- and 6-hydroxyderivatives. Quercetin, epicatechin, and biochanin A did not undergo biotransformation. A metabolic pathway for the degradation of chrysin has been elucidated. The metabolism of chrysin proceeds via an initial C-8 hydroxylation to norwogonin, followed by A-ring cleavage to 4-hydroxy-6-phenyl-2H-pyran-2-one.