Microbial transformations of artemisinin by Cunninghamella echinulata and Aspergillus niger

Microbial transformations of artemisinin 1 by Cunninghamella echinulata (AS 3.3400) and Aspergillus niger (AS 3.795) were carried out. Two products, 10beta-hydroxyartemisinin 2 and 3alpha-hydroxydeoxyartemisinin 3, were obtained. Their structures were identified on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic data. 10beta-Hydroxyartemisinin is a new compound. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.