Comparative efficiency of two species of Arthrobacter in biotransformation of beta-sitosterol into 17-ketosteroids

Abstract

Fermentation of beta-sitosterol (0.1 and 0.3%), dissolved in ethanol and dimethyl formamide (3:1), in 15.0 litre laboratory fermenters containing 7.01 fermentation broth (CSL dextrose/Antibiotic medium No. 1) and 5.0 ml ground-nut oil as anti-foam, was carried out under aerobic conditions at pH 6.5 +- 0.2 and 30 +- 2.0 degree C by two species of Arthrobacter, viz., A. simplex and A. globiformis Str. oxydans.