Microbial transformation of cardiovascular drug, lercanidipine

Biotransformation or also known as bioconversion, is a method of structural modification of exogenous compound into another valuable product by using organisms such as fungi or bacteria. This process is more environmental-friendly as compared to chemical synthesis. The biotransformations result in foundation of new product entities or/and useful compound that may have potential benefits. In this study, cardiovascular drug under the class of calcium channel blocker which is lercanidipine has been used as a substrate that undergone fermentation with endophytes Penicillium lapidosum (SSW), Absidia coerulea, Cunnighamella elegans, Beauveria bassiana, Verticillium lecanii and Trichothecium roseum. Techniques involved are media preparation, inoculation of fungi, feeding of substrate, incubation for 6 or 12 days and extraction using ethyl acetate. The product extracts were then analyzed by using HPLC to screen any biotransformed products.