Bouvardin is a cyclic hexapeptide antitumor agent which undergoes two major microbial transformation reactions. Screening with 220 cultures revealed 17 different strains capable of producing O-desmethylbouvardin in good yield. O-Desmethylbouvardin was isolated and characterized from preparative scale incubations with Streptomyces rutgersensis NRRL B-1256. Four aspergilli and one streptomycete formed bouvardin catechol when O-desmethylbouvardin was used as substrate. Bouvardin catechol was isolated and characterized from a preparative scale incubation with Aspergillus ochraceous UI 398.