Bioreduction of the Chalcones by Fungus Scedosporium apiospermum EJCP13

Biotransformations are chemical reactions carried out by microorganisms on organic substrates. Biotransformations can be regio-, chemo-, stereoand enantio-selective. Bioreductions are of great interest to the food and pharmaceutical industries as they help to reduce costs and impacts on the environment. In this work, the following biotransformations of chalcones were performed: (2E)-1-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)-3-(2methoxy-phenyl)-prop-2-en-1-one (1), (2E)-1-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)-3-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-prop-2-en-1-one (2), and (2E)-1-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)-3-phenyl-prop-2-en-1-one (3) by the fungus Scedosporium aspiospermum, leading to formation through chemo-selective reduction of dihydrochalcones 1-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)-3-(2methoxy-phenyl)-propan-1-one (4), 1-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)-3-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-propan-1-one (5), and 1-(4hydroxy-phenyl)-3-phenyl-propan-1-one (6). Compounds 1-6 had their antimicrobial activities tested and were observed better activity to the biotransformation products compared with substrates. This is the first report of chemo-selective bioreduction by fungi of the genus Scedosporium in biotransformation reactions.