Isolation and Characterization of a Stilbene-degrading Strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens,and Production of Antioxidant Compounds by Stilbene Metabolism

In this study, we consider the use of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria that degrade trans-stilbene as a novel approach for synthesizing potentially bioactive hydroxylated stilbenes. A trans-stilbene-degrading bacterium, MN2, was isolated from activated sludge through enrichment culture, and identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens using conventional techniques. Degradation of trans-stilbene by this strain yielded two metabolites that had significant antioxidant activity.