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Biotechnology and Environment |
Electronic Journal of Biotechnology
ISSN: 0717-3458 |
Vol. 9 No. 3, Issue of April 15, 2006 |
© 2006 by Pontificia Universidad Católica
de Valparaíso -- Chile |
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DOI: 10.2225/vol9-issue3-fulltext-28 |
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Biotransformation
of 1,8-cineole, the main product of Eucalyptus oils
Paula Rodríguez
Cátedra de Farmacognosia y Productos
Naturales
Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química
Universidad de la República
Av. Gral Flores 2124, CP 11800
Montevideo, Uruguay
Tel: 958 2 924 40 68
Fax: 958 2 924 19 06
E-mail: paularod@fq.edu.uy
Wilson Sierra
Cátedra
de Farmacognosia y Productos Naturales
Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química
Universidad de la República
Av. Gral Flores 2124, CP 11800
Montevideo, Uruguay
Tel: 958 2 924 40 68
Fax: 958 2 924 19 06
E-mail: wsierra@fq.edu.uy
Sonia Rodríguez
Cátedra
de Microbiología
Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Química
Universidad de la República
Av. Gral Flores 2124, CP 11800
Montevideo, Uruguay
Tel: 958 2 924 40 68
Fax: 958 2 924 19 06
E-mail: soniar@fq.edu.uy
Pilar Menéndez*
Cátedra
de Farmacognosia y Productos Naturales
Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química
Universidad de la República
Av. Gral Flores 2124, CP 11800
Montevideo, Uruguay
Tel: 958 2 924 40 68
Fax: 958 2 924 19 06
E-mail: menendez@fq.edu.uy
*Corresponding
author
Financial support:
CSIC, PDT-DINACYT, PEDECIBA and OPCW.
Keywords: Biocatalysis,
Monoterpenes, Eucalyptus, Green Chemistry.
Abbreviations: |
BG-11:
Blue-Green algal (modified)
FID:
Flame Ionization Detector
GC:
Gas Chromatography
GC-MS:
Gas Mass-Mass Spectrometry
LB:
Luria Bertani
TLC:
Thin Layer Chromatography
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The forest industry
in Uruguay
has grown considerably during the last decade. Eucalyptus plantations
account for 74% of the forested land, with Eucalyptus globulus
being the most widely distributed species. This industry is dedicated
exclusively to the production of wood without exploiting the by-products
(leaves and small branches). Eucalyptus leaves are known to
contain important amounts of essential oils composed primarily of
1,8-cineole (1,3,3-trymethyl-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.2]octane). In this work,
the biotransformation of 1,8-cineole, is achieved using a native bacterium
(Rhodococcus sp.) which was isolated from the soil of Eucalyptus
forest. A 98% of bioconversion was achieved. Three different optically
pure compounds were obtained, and they were identified as 2-endo-hydroxy-1,8-cineole,
2-exo-hydroxy-1,8-cineole and 2-oxo-1,8-cineole.
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