Biodegradation of lantadene A, the hepatotoxin of lantana plant, by Alcaligenes odorans

A bacterial strain, Alcaligenes odorans, has been isolated, by enrichment from soil, using lantadene A (LA), the pentacyclic triter- penoid from lantana plant, as the sole carbon source. The strain is Gram negative, motile, catalase positive and is capable of utilizing LA. The utilization of LA was less when glucose was used as cosubstrate. The isolate did not utilize lantadene B, a congener of lantadene A