received by the International Bureau on 21 May 2014 (21.05.2014)

I/We claim:

1. A process for the biotransformation of aromatic acids to their reduced carbon aromatic acids comprising:

a) culturing or growing Amycolatopsis mediterranei NCIM 5008 in a fermentor at a temperature in the range of 37-46 °C for 16-24 hours; b) adding the alkaline solution of substrate containing aromatic acid to the fermentation broth of step (a) to obtain the final concentration of 1-15 g/L for aromatic acid; wherein aromatic acid is converted for 24-50 hours, obtaining converted liquid with reduced carbon aromatic acid with 100% conversion rate;

c) centrifuging or filtrating the converted liquid of step (b) to obtain retentate comprising culture cells, and permeate comprising converted liquid with reduced carbon aromatic acid;

d) precipitating the converted liquid obtained from step (c) to isolate crude reduced carbon aromatic acid in solid form; and

e) recrystallizing the crude reduced carbon aromatic acid from (d) to obtain pure reduced carbon aromatic acid; wherein the yield of the reduced carbon aromatic acid is in the range of 70-80%.

2. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein aromatic acid is selected from the group consisting of cinnamic acid, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy cinnamic acid, 4- hydroxy cinnamic acid, 3- hydroxy cinnamic acid, caffeic acid, sinapinic acid, hydrolyzate of lignin, hydrolyzate of phenolate acid and/or aromatic acids with different substituents but similar propenic acid side chain, most preferably 3- methoxy-4-hydroxy cinnamic acid or caffeic acid or p-coumaric acid.

3. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein reduced carbon aromatic acid is selected from the group consisting of benzoic acid, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy benzoic acid, 4-Hydroxy benzoic acid, 3- hydroxy benzoic acid, 3,4-dihydroxy benzoic acid, 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxy benzoic acid, most preferably 4- hydroxy-3-methoxy benzoic acid or protocatechuic acid or p-hydroxy benzoic acid.

4. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein growth of culture by the organism is carried out on a carbon and nitrogen source.

5. The process as claimed in claim 4, wherein carbon source is selected from the group consisting of glucose, molasses, starch, sugar hydrolyzate, corn steep liquor, most preferably glucose.

6. The process as claimed in claim 5, wherein glucose used is in the concentration range from 1-40 g/L, more preferably in the range of 5-20 g/L.

7. The process as claimed in claim 4, wherein nitrogen source used is organic and/or inorganic source.

8. The process as claimed in claim 7, wherein organic source is selected from the group consisting of yeast extract, malt extract, peptone, beef extract, soy protein extract, maize gluten protein extract and/or inorganic source is selected from the group consisting of ammonium sulphate, urea, and sodium nitrate or mixture thereof.

9. The process as claimed in claim 8, wherein nitrogen source used is in the concentration of 5-50 g/L, most preferably in the range of 5-20 g/L.

10. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein substrate concentration used for biotransformation is in the range of 1-20 g/L, more preferably 5-12 g/L.

11. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein alkaline pH of the substrate solution is adjusted in the range of 6-9, more preferably 8-9.

12. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein pH of the growth media is maintained in the range of 6-9, most preferably 7-8.5;

13. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein addition of substrate solution is done in one step or step-wise manner.

14. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein conversion of aromatic acid to their reduced carbon aromatic acid is carried out within 30-40 hours at a temperature in the range of 39 to 45°C in a fermentation broth.

15. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein filtration of converted liquid is carried out using membrane system.

16. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein culture cells obtained from step (c) are reused/recycled for subsequent biotransformation.

17. The process as claimed in claim 16, wherein culture cells are used/recycled for 10-15 cycles of biotransformation without losing the organism's activity for biotransformation.

18. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said culture used for biotransformation is actinomycete species.

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19. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aromatic acid as substrate is not used as a carbon source and/or as inducer for the biotransformation by the organism.

20. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said culture is reduced the

propenic side chain without affecting otheY substituent at different positions.

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