Production of the rare ginsenosides compound K, compound Y, and compound Mc by a thermostable β-glycosidase from Sulfolobus acidocaldarius

Abstract

The rare ginsenosides compound K, compound Y, and compound Mc were produced from the major ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rc, and Rd by a thermostable β-glycosidase from Sulfolobus acidocaldarius via three pathways: Rb1→Rd→compound K, Rb2→compound Y→compound K, and Rc→compound Mc. Each of the ginsenosides was identified by high-performance liquid chromatography using standards and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry based on their molecular weights. The catalytic efficiency of the enzyme for ginsenosides followed the order Rb1 (4.8)>Rc (4.5)>Rd (1.0)>Rb2 (0.77mM-1 min -1). The enzyme converted 1 mg/ml reagent-grade Rb1, Rb2, and Rc to 0.53 mg/ml compound K, 0.56 mg/ml compound Y, and 0.70 mg/ml compound Mc, respectively, at pH 5.5 and 85°C after 180 min, corresponding to mole conversion yields of 94, 80, and 100% (mol/mol), respectively. The enzyme converted the major ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rc, and Rd in 10% (w/v) ginseng root extract to the rare ginsenosides with a mole yield of 99% after 24 h. These results suggest that β-glycosidase from S. acidocaldarius can be used to produce compound K, compound Y, and compound Mc. © 2009 Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.