Biotransformation of Protoberberine Alkaloids by the Endophytic Fungus Coelomycetes AFKR-3 Isolated from Yellow Moonsheed Plant (Archangelisia Flava (L.) Merr.)

The endophytic fungus Coelomycetes AFKR-3 isolated from young stems of yellow moonshed plant (Archangelisia flava (L.) Merr.) has shown the capability to biotransform berberine into its 7-N-oxide derivative. Further investigations showed that the fungus can also biotransform the protoberberine alkaloid, palmatine into a new derivative palmatine 7-N-oxide in liquid medium of glucose-yeast extract-peptone. Berberine 7-N-oxide displayed the same antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria and pathogenic fungi as berberine