Biotransformation of ginsenosides by hydrolyzing the sugar moieties of ginsenosides using microbial glycosidases

Abstract

Ginsenosides are the principal components responsible for the pharmaceutical activities of ginseng. The minor ginsenosides, which are also pharmaceutically active, can be produced via the hydrolysis of the sugar moieties in the major ginsenosides using acid hydrolytic, heating, microbial, and enzymatic transformation techniques. The enzymatic method has a profound potential for ginsenoside transformation, owing to its high specificity, yield, and productivity, and this method is increasingly being recognized as a useful tool in structural modification and metabolism studies. In this article, the transformation methods of ginsenosides, the characterization of microbial glycosidases with ginsenoside hydrolyzing activities, and the enzymatic production of minor ginsenosides are reviewed. Moreover, the conversions of ginsenosides using cell extracts from food microorganisms and recombinant thermostable beta-D-glycosidases are proposed as feasible methods for use in industrial processes.

Simultaneous Enrichment of Deglycosylated Ginsenosides and Monacolin K in Red Ginseng by Fermentation withMonascus pilosus

“…14) In addition, ginsenosides containing less sugar are more functionally active. 14,16) In other compounds, such as isoflavones, aglycones have better bioavailability and functionality than the corresponding glycones. 38) Red ginseng, made by repetitive steaming and drying, contains more ginsenosides with less sugar than ginseng, but its contents are variable depending on processing conditions.…”

“…1). 16) Some ginsenosides, such as Rb 1 , Rd, and F 2 , contain only glucose molecules as a sugar moiety. Rb 2 and Rc have glucose and arabinose, and Re and Rg 2 have glucose and rhamnose.…”

“…Rb 2 and Rc have glucose and arabinose, and Re and Rg 2 have glucose and rhamnose. 16) These ginsenoside glycosides can be converted into ginsenosides, such as Rh 1 , Rh 2 , Rg 1 , and Rg 3; which contain less sugar than the original by glucosidase, arabinosidase, or rhamnosidase. All the tested Monascus strains showed -D-glucosidase, -L-arabinosidase, and -L-rhamnosidase activity in 10% red ginseng media (data not shown).…”

“…3,14,15) For example, ginsenosides Rg 3 , Rh 1 , Rh 2 and compound K are known to have excellent pharmacological effects. 14,16) Many people cannot fully benefit from the health effects of red ginseng due to limited ability to absorb ginsenosides. Some ginsenosides have to be digested by intestinal bacterial enzymes to be absorbed.…”

“…Other approaches have been adopted involving fermentation with intestinal bacteria such as Bifidobacterium 25) or lactic acid bacteria, 26) but these methods require expensive media and result in low yields and poor productivity. 16) Several reports have stated that ginsenosides can be converted by fungal strains such as Rhizopus stolonifer, 27) Aspergillus niger, 28) Fusarium sacchari, 29) and Curvularia lunata, 27) but many of these fungi are not generally regarded as safe, which limits their application in foods.…”