Morphine alkaloids and some of its derivatives (morphine, codeine, thebaine, oripavine, hydrocodone, and oxycodone) were subjected to fermentations with six fungal strains. The alkaloids were transformed to a variety of products via biological oxidations, reductions, and oxidative demethylations. The strain Cunninghamella echinulata proved to be the most effective for demethylations of all of the above compounds, except for morphine. The time profile of the conversion of 3-[14CH3]thebaine to 3-[14CH3]northebaine by C. echinulata cultures was also determined.
吗啡生物碱及其一些衍生物(吗啡、可待因、鸦片碱、欧洲罂粟碱、羟考酮和羟麻醉酮)被用六株真菌进行发酵。这些生物碱通过生物氧化、还原和氧化去甲基反应转化为各种产物。其中,Cunninghamella echinulata 菌株被证明对上述所有化合物的去甲基反应最为有效,除了吗啡。还确定了C. echinulata 培养物中3-[14CH3]鸦片碱转化为3-[14CH3]诺鸦片碱的时间进程。