Effect of ionic liquid-containing system on betulinic acid production from betulin biotransformation by cultured Armillaria luteo-virens Sacc cells

The aim of this study is to develop an ionic liquid-containing system for efficient production of betulinic acid by cultured cells Armillaria luteo-virens Sacc ZJUQH100-6. Several parameters affecting betulinic acid formation in the IL-containing system were investigated. The addition of [EMIM][BF4] in hexane-containing reaction medium gave rise to better betulinic acid formation in comparison with other ILs used. The optimal concentration of IL in IL-containing co-solvent system is 50% (v/v). As a co-substrate, butanol is found to be useful for intracellular betulin-28-monooxygenase synthesis during the whole phase. The concentrations of substrate and resting cells have been found to exert a significant effect on betulinic acid. Moreover, the reaction time in this IL-containing system was less than that in the conventional one. The effect of the constructed IL-containing system on cell membrane structure was comparatively observed. Under the developed IL-containing system, the highest yield of product observed was 11.14% at 18 h, higher than that in monophase aqueous one (P < 0.05), whereas the activity of monooxygenase showed the same variation as betulinic acid formation.