Fungal degradation of lantadene A, the pentacyclic triterpenoid hepatotoxin of lantana plant

Seven white-rot fungi, known to degrade complex biomolecules and xenobiotics were used for investigation on biodegradation of lantadene A (LA), the bioactive pentacyclic triterpenoid of Lantana camara. Pleurotus sajor-caju and Merulius tremellosus PRL-2845 did not degrade LA. Trametes versicolor MTCC-138, Heterobasidion annosum MTCC-146, Phellinus pini RAB-83-19, Pleurotus ostreatus MTCC-142 and Phlebia radiata 2 utilized LA to the extent of 11–15.7%. This is the first report on the fungal degradation of a pentacyclic triterpenoid.