Biotransformation of flavonoid-7-O-glucuronides by -glucuronidases

$\beta$-Glucuronidases (E.C. 3.2.1.31) from Escherichia coli, Helix pomatia, and bovine liver activity have been investigated on 7-O-glucuronides (baicalin, wogonoside, and luteolin-7-O-glucuronide) and 3-O-glucuronides (quercetin-3-O-glucuronide and kaempferol-3-O-glucuronide). Bovine liver enzyme was not active on any of these substrates. E. coli and H. pomatia enzymes were active on 7-O-glucuronides, however, 3-O-glucuronides were resistant to $\beta$-glucuronidase hydrolysis. These results suggest that glucuronic acid at 7-position is more susceptible to E. coli and H. pomatia $\beta$-glucuronidases than that at 3-position. In addition, the subtle difference of aglycone structure on 7-O-glucuronides affected the preference of enzyme. E. coli enzyme was favorable for the hydrolysis of baicalin, however, H. pomatia enzyme was found to be efficient for the hydrolysis of wogonoside. Both enzymes showed the similar hydrolytic activity towards luteolin-7-O-glucuronide. When the Scutellaria baicalensis crude extract was subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis, baicalin and wogonoside were successfully converted to their aglycone counterparts with H. pomatia at 50 mM sodium bicarbonate buffer pH 4.0. Accordingly, the enzymatic transformation of glycosides may be quite useful in preparing aglycones under mild conditions.