Advances in ginsenoside biosynthesis and metabolic regulation

Abstract

In this paper, we reviewed the advances in ginsenoside biosynthesis and metabolic regulation. To begin with, the application of elicitors in the ginsenoside biosynthesis was discussed. Methyl jasmonate (MJ) and analogues have the best effect on accumulation of ginsenoside compared with other elicitors, and few biotic elicitors are applied in Panax genus plants tissue culture. In addition, so far, more than 40 genes encoding ginsenoside biosynthesis related enzymes have been cloned and identified from Panax genus, such as UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGT) genes UDPG, UGTAE2, UGT94Q2, UGTPg100, and UGTPg1. However, the downstream pathway of the ginsenoside biosynthesis is still not clear. Moreover, some methods have been used to increase the expression of functional genes and ginsenoside content in the ginsenoside synthesis pathway, including elicitors, overexpression, RNAi, and transcription factors. The ginsenoside biosynthesis pathway should be revealed so that ginsenoside contents can be regulated.

Comparative study on anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of hydroponic ginseng and soil-cultured ginseng

“…Ginsenoside, a saponin specific to ginseng, is classified according to the number of hydroxyl group bound to structure as either PPD (protopanaxadiol) or PPT (protopanaxatriol). It has been reported that the composition and content of ginsenoside varies depending on a variety of other conditions including the region in which it is cultivated and its growth environment (Lu et al, 2018). The extraction yields of crude saponin from the roots of 1YHPG, 2YHPG, 4YSCG, and 6YSCG, and the shoots of 1YHPG and 2YHPG, were 8.24, 9.67, 8.98, 7.49, 26.36, and 33.33%, respectively (data not shown).…”

Glucosylation of (±)-Menthol by Uridine-Diphosphate-Sugar Dependent Glucosyltransferases from Plants

“…With minor improvements in cultivation parameters, an economical large-scale bioprocess can be developed, replacing expensive chemical synthesis that requires protection and deprotection reactions, resulting in low specificities and yields. Various terpene glycosides occur naturally and are obtained in small amounts from plant extracts [ 48 , 62 , 63 ]. Due to their high economic importance, glycosylation using enzyme biocatalysts becomes very attractive for the synthesis of glycosides and exhibits high efficiency, stereoselectivity and regioselectivity in an environmentally friendly manner.…”

Ginsenosides in Panax genus and their biosynthesis

“…JA responsive genes involved in ginsenoside biosynthesis are regulated by different TFs 161 , 162 , 163 . MeJA and its analogues, the best effective elicitor on ginsenoside accumulation, were often used to stimulate ginsenoside biosynthesis in plant tissue cultures 52 . (+)-7- iso -Jasmonoyl- l -isoleucine (JA-Ile) was considered as the endogenous bioactive jasmonate 164 , and MeJA was cleaved by esterases and subsequently converted to JA-Ile by JA-amino acid synthetase (JAR1) before working as an elicitor 165 .…”

“…Application of elicitors are effective to improve ginsenoside production. Among these elicitors, MeJA and its analogues were most effective 52 . In a MeJA elicited experiment, all the MVA pathway genes except IDI were up-regulated.…”

“…There are excellent reviews available including those concerning ginsenosides focusing on structures or their bioactivities 43 , 44 , on isolation and analysis 45 , 46 , 47 , on special ginsenoside such as OCT-type saponins and saponin stereoisomers 48 , 49 , on metabolic regulation 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , and on elicitation strategy and signal transductions 54 . In contrast, reviews on ginsenoside biosynthesis are limited and mainly focusing on sapogenin biosynthetic genes and their applications 55 .…”