An improved water-soluble/stereospecific biotransformation of aporphine alkaloids in Stephania epigaea to 4 R -hydroxyaporphine alkaloids by Clonostachys rogersoniana
-Hydroxyaporphine alkaloids exhibit the same levels of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory and cytotoxic activities as aporphinealkaloids and are considerably more water soluble than aporphinealkaloids, indicating their potential as water-soluble AChE inhibitors and antitumor agents. This paper suggests that C. rogersoniana fermentation can facilitate a novel biotransformation of aporphinealkaloids in S.