Biotransformation of Silibinin (Silybin) Using Fungal Organisms

Abstract:

Biotransformation of Silibinin using fungi was performed and parameters viz., effect of incubation period, effect of pH, effect of temperature, effect of glucose concentration and effect of substrate concentration were studied. Of the 29 fungi studied 11 were able to metabolize Silibinin to produce one or two metabolites, which was evidenced from the absence of the new peaks in controls. Maximum biotransformation of 29% was seen with Cunninghamella echinulata NCIM 691. The metabolites were identified as hydroxylated (M1) and demethylated (M2) products of Silibinin by HPLC diode array and LC MS-MS analysis. These metabolites were already reported in mammalian metabolism studies. Dextrose medium 0.02% Silibinin (pH 7.0) was incubated for 8 days at 27 °C. This was found to be suitable for maximum biotransformation of Silibinin using Cunninghamella echinulata NCIM 691.

Keywords: Biotransformation, Metabolites, Fungi, Silibinin.