Stereoselective Reduction of Bisdemethoxycurcumin to (R)-Hexahydrobisdemethoxycurcumin by Cultured Morus bombycis Plant Cells

Abstract
Biotransformation of bisdemethoxycurcumin was examined using cultured plant cells of Morus bombycis, the Moraceae mulberry family, as biocatalysts. The cultured cells converted bisdemethoxycurcumin into (R)-hexahydrobisdemethoxycurcumin in 30% yield in 1 day. The (S)-stereoisomer has been isolated from Betula platyphylla Sukatchev var. japonica.