Biotransformation of β-amyrin acetate by Rhodobacter sphaeroides

The microbial transformation of β-amyrin acetate (compound 1) occurred in the culture of Rhodobacter sphaeroides producing three metabolites. The metabolites were purified and identified as β-amyrin (compound 2), (3β)-olean-12-ene-3, 23-diol (compound 3), and erythrodiol (compound 4). Initially, it was found that β-amyrin acetate could be deacetylated and hydroxylated by microbial methods.