Whole cell biotransformation of major ginsenosides using Leuconostocs and Lactobacilli

Abstract

Various strains of Lactobacillus and Leuconostoc species were evaluated to select the most promising strain to carry out transforming major ginsenosides into minor ginsenosides. Among the experimental lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Leuconostoc mesenteroides KFRI 690, Leuconostoc paramesenteroides KFRI 159, and Lactobacillus delbrueckii KCCM 35486 produced compound K from major ginsenosides precursors (Rb1, Rc, Rd, and F2). KFRI 690 showed the best transforming activity among them. Furthermore, these LABs could biotransform ginsenosides without disrupting the cell to release enzyme activity. The conversion ratio of Rb1 to compound K using KFRI 690 has been enhanced up to 97.8% by adding 2% sucrose into the culture medium. This is the first report on the production of compound K using whole cells of Leu. mesenteroides, Leu. paramesenteroides, and Lb. delbrueckii, which are food grade lactic acid bacteria.

Biotransformation of the Principal Ginsenosides of Panax ginseng Into Minor Glycosides Through the Action of Bacterium Paenibacillus sp. BG134

“…TLC and HPLC analysis showed that starting 2 (R f 0.25, t R 14.84 min) and its transformation product 6 were present in samples taken from bacterial suspension incubated with added 2. The R f on TLC (0.40) and HPLC retention time (t R 18.00 min) of 6 agreed with those of the standard ginsenoside known as C-O [16][17][18][19]. Like in the experiment with Rc, increasing the incubation time caused the concentration of starting 2 to decrease and the concentration of 6 to increase proportionally.…”

“…BG134 on Rc was similar to that described above for Sphingopyxis sp. BG97 [14] but differed from those of microorganisms such as Actinosynnema mirum [16] and Leuconostoc mesenteroides KFRI 690 [17], which transform Rc into C-Mc and C-K, respectively, through more complete deglycosylation.…”

Transformation of Ginsenoside Rc into (20S)-Rg3 by the Bacterium Leuconostoc sp. BG78

“…BG78 could be used to transform principal glycoside Rc into the biologically more active minor ginsenoside (20S)-Rg 3 . This distinguished it from other Leuconostoc bacterial strains that transform Rc into other minor dammarane glycosides [3]. …”

“…(20S)-Rg 3 differs from the principal dammarane glycosides Rb 1 , Rb 2 , Rc (1), and Rd (2) that have the aglycon protopanaxadiol only by the lack of a carbohydrate on C-20 [2]. This enables it to be produced by selective incomplete deglycosylation of these saponins, including by using various microorganisms [3,4].We reported earlier the use of several bacteria with E-glucosidase activity for transformation of ginsenoside Rb 1 into the minor glycoside F-2 and compound K [5] and Rd into the aforementioned ginsenoside (20S)-Rg 3 [6]. Herein we communicate data on the transformation of another principal glycoside, Rc (1) with a C-3 E-sophorose and a C-20 D-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1o6)-E-D-glucopyranoside, into (20S)-Rg 3 by the bacterium Leuconostoc sp.…”

“…(20S)-Rg 3 differs from the principal dammarane glycosides Rb 1 , Rb 2 , Rc (1), and Rd (2) that have the aglycon protopanaxadiol only by the lack of a carbohydrate on C-20 [2]. This enables it to be produced by selective incomplete deglycosylation of these saponins, including by using various microorganisms [3,4].…”