• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.255-263
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• 2020

Ginsenosides are considered to be the most important ingredients in ginseng. They are chemically converted by endogenous organic acids contained in ginseng and the heat applied during red ginseng processing. During this procedure, various converted ginsenosides are produced through hydrolysis of substitute sugars of ginsenosides and forming double bonds through dehydration in the dammarane skeleton. In order to study the conversion mechanism of protopanaxadiol-type ginsenosides during the heat treatment process of ginseng, we purified the three final converted ginsenosides by heating fresh ginseng for a long time. The three isolated ginsenosides were identified as 25(OH)-ginsenoside Rg5, 25(OH)-ginsenoside Rz1 and 25(OH)-ginsenoside Rg3 through NMR spectrum analysis. As a result of quantification of ginseng heated at 100 ℃ for 0 to 6 days by HPLC/UV and TLC methods, the content of 25(OH)-ginsenosides tended to increase in proportion to the time exposed to heat. In particular, the content of 25(OH)-ginsenosid Rg5 was confirmed to be noticeably increased.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.735-742
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• 2017

This study was conducted to isolate and characterize Paenibacillus sp. MBT213 possessing ${\beta}$-glucosidase activity from raw milk, and examine the enzymatic capacity on the hydrolysis of a major ginsenoside ($Rb_1$). Strain MBT213 was found to have a high hydrolytic ability on ginsenoside $Rb_1$ by Esculin Iron Agar test. 16S rDNA analysis revealed that MBT213 was Paenibacillu sp. Crude enzyme of MBT213 strain exhibited high conversion capacity on ginsenoside $Rb_1$ into ginsenoside Rd proven by TLC and HPLC analyses. The API ZYM kit confirmed that Paenibacillu sp. MBT213 exerted higher ${\beta}$-glucosidase and ${\beta}$-galactosidase activity than other strains. Optimum pH and temperature for crude enzyme were found at 7.0 and $35^{\circ}C$ in hydrolysis of ginsenoside $Rb_1$. After 10 d of optimal reaction conditions for the crude enzyme, ginsenoside $Rb_1$ fully converted to ginsenoside Rd. Ginseng roots (20%) were fermented for 14 d, and analyzed by HPLC showed that amount of ginsenoside $Rb_1$ significantly decreased, while that of ginsenoside Rd was significantly increased. The study confirmed that the ${\beta}$-glucosidase produced by Paenibacillus sp. MBT213 can hydrolyze the major ginsenoside $Rb_1$ and convert to Rd during fermentation of the ginseng. The ${\beta}$-glucosidase activity of this novel Paenibacillus sp. MBT213 strain may be utilized in development of variety of health foods, dairy foods and pharmaceutical products.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.454-457
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• 1995

To improve the yield of genuine aglycones from glycosides, the conditions of alkaline hydrolysis were investigated, and a modified method was established. The modified method empolyed pyridine as an aprotic solvent. To complete the hydrolysis and obtain 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (1) and 20(S)-protopanaxatriol(2), which are the genuine aglycones of ginsenosides, total ginsenosides were refluxed with sodium methoxide in pyridine. Addition of methanol, a protic polar solvent to the reaction miuxture, led partial hydrolysis yielding a mixture of the genuine prosapogenols. Of the prosapogenols compound 3 and 6 characteristically possessed D-glucopyranosyl moiety attached at the sterically hindered C-20 hydroxyl group. 3 and 6 were not obtaijned by other hydrolysisw methods except by the soil bacterial hydrolysis.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.37 no.4 s.147
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• pp.217-220
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• 2006

This study compared the contents of ginsenoside according to the extract conditions of red ginseng to provide basic information for developing functional food using red ginseng. According to the result, the content of crude saponin was highest in 72 hours of extraction at $82^{\circ}C$ (RG-823). The content of prosapogenin (ginsenoside $Rh_1,\;Rh_2,\;Rg_2,\;Rg_3$) was highest in 48 hours of extraction, and followed by 72 and 24 hours at $82^{\circ}C$. And at $93^{\circ}C$ the prosapogenin contents were highest in the order of 48 hours, and next in 24 and 72 hours. In addition, ginsenoside $Rb_1,\;Rb_2$ Rc and Re were not detected in 72 hours of extraction at $93^{\circ}C$ (RG-933) presumedly due to hydrolysis, but ginsenoside Rd, Rf and $Rg_1$ were detected as long as 72 hours of extraction. These results show that protopanaxatriol group is relatively more resistant to heat than protopanaxadiol group.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.391-397
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• 2020

In this study, we used a novel α-L-arabinopyranosidase (AbpBs) obtained from ginsenoside-converting Blastococcus saxobsidens that was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3), and then applied it in the biotransformation of ginsenoside Rb₂ into Rd. The gene, termed AbpBs, consisting of 2,406 nucleotides (801 amino acid residues), and with a predicted translated protein molecular mass of 86.4 kDa, was cloned into a pGEX4T-1 vector. A BLAST search using the AbpBs amino acid sequence revealed significant homology with a family 2 glycoside hydrolase (GH2). The over-expressed recombinant AbpBs in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) catalyzed the hydrolysis of the arabinopyranose moiety attached to the C-20 position of ginsenoside Rb₂ under optimal conditions (pH 7.0 and 40℃). Kinetic parameters for α-L-arabinopyranosidase showed apparent K_m and V_max values of 0.078 ± 0.0002 μM and 1.4 ± 0.1 μmol/min/mg of protein against p-nitrophenyl-α-L-arabinopyranoside. Using a purified AbpBs (1 ㎍/ml), 0.1% of ginsenoside Rb₂ was completely converted to ginsenoside Rd within 1 h. The recombinant AbpBs could be useful for high-yield, rapid, and low-cost preparation of ginsenoside Rd from Rb₂.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1536-1542
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• 2020

Dekkera anomala YAE-1 strain separated from "airag" (Mongolian fermented mare's milk) produces β-glucosidase, which can convert ginsenoside Rb₁ from Panax ginseng. Ginseng- derived bioactive components such as ginsenoside Rb₁ have various immunological and anticancer activities. Airag was collected from five different mare milk farms located near Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. YAE-1 strains were isolated from airag to examine the hydrolytic activities of β-glucosidase on Korean Panax ginseng using an API ZYM kit. Supernatants of selected cultures having β-glucosidase activity were examined for hydrolysis of the major ginsenoside Rb₁ at 40℃, pH 5.0. The YAE-1 strain was found to be nearly identical at 99.9% homology with Dekkera anomala DB-7B, and was thus named Dekkera anomala YAE-1. This strain exerted higher β-glucosidase activity than other enzymes. Reaction mixtures from Dekkera anomala YAE-1 showed great capacity for converting ginsenoside Rb₁ to ginsenoside Rd. The β-glucosidase produced by Dekkera anomala YAE-1 was able to hydrolyze ginsenoside Rb₁ and convert it to Rd during fermentation of the ginseng. The amount of ginsenoside Rd was highly increased from 0 to 1.404 mg/ml in fermented 20% ginseng root at 7 days.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.334-343
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• 2021

Background: Gut microbiota mainly function in the biotransformation of primary ginsenosides into bioactive metabolites. Herein, we investigated the effects of three prebiotic fibers by targeting gut microbiota on the metabolism of ginsenoside Rb1 in vivo. Methods: Sprague Dawley rats were administered with ginsenoside Rb1 after a two-week prebiotic intervention of fructooligosaccharide, galactooligosaccharide, and fibersol-2, respectively. Pharmacokinetic analysis of ginsenoside Rb1 and its metabolites was performed, whilst the microbial composition and metabolic function of gut microbiota were examined by 16S rRNA gene amplicon and metagenomic shotgun sequencing. Results: The results showed that peak plasma concentration and area under concentration time curve of ginsenoside Rb1 and its intermediate metabolites, ginsenoside Rd, F2, and compound K (CK), in the prebiotic intervention groups were increased at various degrees compared with those in the control group. Gut microbiota dramatically responded to the prebiotic treatment at both taxonomical and functional levels. The abundance of Prevotella, which possesses potential function to hydrolyze ginsenoside Rb1 into CK, was significantly elevated in the three prebiotic groups (P < 0.05). The gut metagenomic analysis also revealed the functional gene enrichment for terpenoid/polyketide metabolism, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, propanoate metabolism, etc. Conclusion: These findings imply that prebiotics may selectively promote the proliferation of certain bacterial stains with glycoside hydrolysis capacity, thereby, subsequently improving the biotransformation and bioavailability of primary ginsenosides in vivo.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.410-418
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• 2019

To investigate a novel ${\beta}$-glucosidase from Bifidobacterium breve ATCC 15700 (BbBgl) to produce compound K (CK) via ginsenoside $F_2$ by highly selective and efficient hydrolysis of the C-3 glycoside from ginsenoside Rd, the BbBgl gene was cloned and expressed in E. coli BL21. The recombinant BbBgl was purified by Ni-NTA magnetic beads to obtain an enzyme with specific activity of 37 U/mg protein using pNP-Glc as substrate. The enzyme activity was optimized at pH 5.0, $35^{\circ}C$, 2 or 6 U/ml, and its activity was enhanced by $Mn^{2+}$ significantly. Under the optimal conditions, the half-life of the BbBgl is 180 h, much longer than the characterized ${\beta}$-glycosidases, and the $K_m$ and $V_{max}$ values are 2.7 mM and $39.8{\mu}mol/mg/min$ for ginsenoside Rd. Moreover, the enzyme exhibits strong tolerance against high substrate concentration (up to 40 g/l ginsenoside Rd) with a molar biotransformation rate of 96% within 12 h. The good enzymatic properties and gram-scale conversion capacity of BbBgl provide an attractive method for large-scale production of rare ginsenoside CK using a single enzyme or a combination of enzymes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1081-1089
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• 2008

A novel ginsenoside-hydrolyzing ${\beta}$-glucosidase was purified from Paecilomyces Bainier sp. 229 by a combination of Q-Sepharose FF, phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B, and CHT ceramic hydroxyapatite column chromatography. The purified enzyme was a monomeric protein with a molecular mass estimated to be 115 kDa. The optimal enzyme activity was observed at pH 3.5 and $60^{\circ}C$. It was highly stable within pH 3-9 and at temperatures lower than $55^{\circ}C$. The enzyme was specific to ${\beta}$-glucoside. The order of enzyme activities against different types of ${\beta}$-glucosidic linkages was ${\beta}$-(1-6)>${\beta}$-(1-2)>${\beta}$-(1-4). The enzyme converted ginsenoside Rb1 to CK specifically and efficiently. An 84.3% amount of ginsenoside Rb1, with an initial concentration of 2 mM, was converted into CK in 24 h by the enzyme at $45^{\circ}C$ and pH 3.5. The hydrolysis pathway of ginsenoside Rb1 by the enzyme was $Rb1{\to}Rd{\to}F2{\to}CK$. Five tryptic peptide fragments of the enzyme were identified by a newly developed de novo sequencing method of post-source decay (PSD) matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. By comparing the five identified peptide sequences with the NCBI database, this purified ${\beta}$-glucosidase proves to be a new protein that has not been reported before.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.401-414
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• 2013

Ginsenoside Rg3 (G-Rg3) contained only in red ginseng has been found to show various pharmacological effects such as an anticancer, antiangiogenetic, antimetastastic, liver protective, neuroprotective immunomodulating, vasorelaxative, antidiabetic, insulin secretion promoting and antioxidant activities. It is well known that G-Rg3 could be divided into 20(R)-Rg3 and 20(S)-Rg3 according to the hydroxyl group attached to C-20 of aglycone, whose structural characteristics show different pharmacological activities. It has been reported that G-Rg3 is metabolized to G-Rh2 and protopanaxadiol by the conditions of the gastric acid or intestinal bacteria, thereby these metabolites could be absorbed, suggesting its absolute bioavailability (2.63%) to be very low. Therefore, we reviewed the chemical, physical and biological transformation methods for the production on a large scale of G-Rg3 with various pharmacological effects. We also examined the influence of acid and heat treatment-induced potentials on for the preparation method of higher G-Rg3 content in ginseng and ginseng products. Futhermore, the microbial and enzymatic bio-conversion technologies could be more efficient in terms of high selectivity, efficiency and productivity. The present review discusses the available technologies for G-Rg3 production on a large scale using chemical and biological transformation.