Biotransformation of vinblastine into vincristine using a fungal endophyte Fusarium equiseti along with the assessment of its antiangiogenic properties.

This study focuses on the microbial biotransformation of vinblastine to vincristine, a compound with enhanced anticancer efficacy compared to vinblastine utilizing a fungal endophyte Fusarium equiseti, isolated from Catharanthus roseus. Additionally, the antiangiogenic properties of the resulting vincristine were evaluated in vivo using the chick chorioallantoic membrane assay. The biotransformation was conducted in liquid medium containing vinblastine (0.6-2.4 mM), and F. equiseti spore suspension (50-150 µL) by incubating at 30 °C, pH 5.6, and 200 rpm for eight days. After the reaction was over, products were extracted using methanol and analyzed by LC-MS/MS. The results confirmed the production of vincristine from vinblastine in different sets of biotransformation reactions. In biotransformation reaction-1, which comprised of vinblastine (0.6 mM) and fungal inoculum 150 µL (82 × 104 spores/mL), 92 % of vinblastine was converted into vincristine on 8th day of incubation. The vincristine produced demonstrated significant antiangiogenetic properties in the chick chorioallantoic membrane assay in a dose-dependent manner. The antiangiogenic properties of vincristine produced was comparable to standard vincristine. Hence, the study revealed that F. equiseti present a viable alternative to produce vincristine from vinblastine. To our knowledge, this is the first report on F. equiseti highlighting its vinblastine biotransformation potential.