An Insight into Ginsenoside Metabolite Compound K as a Potential Tool for Skin Disorder

Abstract

Ginsenosides are the major bioactive natural compounds derived from Panax ginseng. Several studies report the pharmaceutical benefits of several ginsenosides, including antidementia, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory activity. Biotransformations by gut microbiome contribute to the biological function of these ginsenosides. After ingestion ginsenosides are hydrolyzed to Rg2, Rg3, compound K, and others by human gut flora. Compound K is considered the representative active metabolite after oral administration of ginseng or ginsenosides. Various studies report the diverse biological functions of compound K, such as antitumor, antidiabetic, antiallergic, and anti-inflammatory activity. Recent clinical trial and in vitro studies demonstrate the antiaging activities of ginsenosides in human skin. Ginsenosides have been considered as an important natural dermatological agent. In this review, we will cover the modern tools and techniques to understand biotransformation and delivery of compound K. Also the biological function of compound K on skin disorder and its potential dermatological application will be discussed.

Microbial Metabolites Determine Host Health and the Status of Some Diseases

“…Compound K is a metabolite formed upon the transformation of dietary components by intestinal microbiota [15,16]. It is a microbial metabolite of ginsenoside Rb1, a 20( S )-protopanaxadiol-type ginsenoside and a component of ginseng [79,80,81]. Ginsenoside Rb1 has low membrane permeability and is easily degraded [82].…”

“…Ginsenoside Rb1 has low membrane permeability and is easily degraded [82]. Hence, its biological effects are enhanced by intestinal microbial metabolism [80,83]. Ginsenoside Rb1 is metabolized through deglycosylation and hydrolysis by intestinal microbes such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron , and Streptococcus thermophilus [80,81].…”

“…Hence, its biological effects are enhanced by intestinal microbial metabolism [80,83]. Ginsenoside Rb1 is metabolized through deglycosylation and hydrolysis by intestinal microbes such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron , and Streptococcus thermophilus [80,81]. Non-digestible food ingredients and prebiotics stimulate the formation and absorption of compound K by increasing glycosidase activity and the growth of compound K-forming intestinal microbes such as Lactobacillus and Bacteroides [84,85].…”

Medicinal plants with anti-mutagenic potential

“…The extract of P. ginseng, when given orally to mice, showed a significant reduction in the number of tumour cells, shrinkage of tumour cells, and also increased the time duration of the appearance of tumour cells [83]. Alpha-pyrrolidone, an alkaloid of ginseng, was tested for the first time in 1960 and was shown to have inhibitory effects on tumour cell lines [84][85][86][87][88][89].…”

Physical, chemical, and biological characterization of ginsenoside F1 incorporated in nanostructured lipid carrier

“…Kim et al. (2018) stated that the oral bioavailability of ginsenosides was less than 5%, and the main factors associated with the low bioavailability of ginsenoside metabolites may be due to low water solubility and membrane permeability, and P‐glycoprotein‐mediated efflux system (Kim & Kim, 2018).…”