Biocatalytic transformations of bioactive labdane diterpenoids from Andrographis paniculata (Burm f.) Nees: A review

Medicinally active labdane diterpene lactones, andrographolide (1), neoandrographolide (2), dehydroandrographolide (3) and deoxyandrographolide (4) are isolated from medicinal plant, Andrographis paniculata. These diterpenes have many beneficial health effects such as anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-diabetes. However, to improve bioactivity and water solubility, analogues of labdene diterpenes have been synthesised using synthetic and biotransformation routes. Biocatalytic modification has extensive potential for the preparation of a wide variety of complex, structurally diverse and more potent organic compounds at milder and eco-friendly reaction conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to systematically accumulate the biotransformation reports for isolated lactones. This article reviews the regioselective transformations of bioactive labdane diterpenes isolated from Andrographis paniculata. The whole-cell and pure enzymatic transformations of andrographolide (1) and its derivatives are presented concisely.