PROCESS FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF DIGITOXIGENIN GLYCOSIDES IN THE PLANTS DIGITALIS LANATA AND DIGITALIS PURPUREA INTO DIGOXIN, ACETYL-DIGOXIN, DIGITOXIN AND GITOXIN RESP. BY MEANS OF FERMENTATION

摘要

Digitoxigenin glycosides (I) are converted into digoxin (II) and gitoxin (III) by exposing a (I)-contg starting material, pref. freshly gathered, comminuted digitalis plants, to the action of the enzyme system inherent in the digitalis plant, at 20-45 degrees C for >=60 hrs with exclusion of air and/or with passage of N2 and CO2, and working up the converted material in known manner to give the glycosides. The fermentation may be followed by high-temp drying. Alternatively, the starting material can be reacted with extracts of fresh, lyophilised or dried (at 35 degrees C) digitalis plants purified over a crosslinked dextran gel, under the same conditions (but at 30-35 degrees C) for 24 hrs.