Biotransformation of Hyodeoxycholic and Deoxycholic Bile Acids

Biotransformations involve the use of microorganisms that allow to modify organic compounds by generating different molecules with possible pharmacological, nutritional, or cosmetic properties. The aim of this research was to evaluate the biotransformations of bile acids (hyodeoxycholic acid, HA, and deoxycholic acid, DA), using microorganisms isolated from slaughtering houses of Ecuador. The biotransformations were analyzed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The genus identification of the bacteria has been carried out by biochemical tests. The results showed that the more efficient bacteria for the biotransformation of HA were identified as Vibrio alginolyticus, Burk holderia pseudomallei, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. For DA biotransformations, the most efficient bacteria were Proteus penneri, Burkholdeira pseudomallei, Pasteurella multocida, and Pseudomona aeruginosa. The low biotransformation capacity found in fungi may be due to the difference in metabolic pathways between the two types of microorganisms and that the best source for obtaining bacteria with biotransformation capacity (100%) of HA was the container of intestines, whereas for DA the best sampling area was the slaughtering area, isolating bacteria with a biotransformation capacity of 80%.