Microbial bioconversion of metabolites from fermented succulent bamboo shoots into phytosterols

Fermented succulent shoots of bamboo (Bambusa balcooa and Dendrocalamus strictus) are an enriched source of phytosterol. Microorganisms from the 'soibum exudate' involved in microbial bioconversion of phytosterol during fermentation of succulent bamboo shoots were isolated and identified as Bacillus subtilis, B. licheniformis, B. coagulans and Micrococcus luteus. Crude phytosterol was purified to isolate beta-sitosterol by thin layer chromatography and identified by IR and mass spectral data. The isolated beta-sitosterol was then subjected to microbial bioconversion using B. subtilis yielding a considerable amount of androstadienedione in the presence of metal chelate inhibitor (0.1 % alpha, alpha'-dipyridyl).