Glycosylation of phenolic compounds by root culture of Panax ginseng

Abstract

A root culture of Panax ginseng was able to convert 3,5-dimethoxyphenol (taxicatigenin) into its glucoside (taxicatin), primeveroside and gentiobioside, methyl salicylate into its glucoside and gentiobioside, p-hydroxy-acetophenone into its glucoside (picein), and coniferyl alcohol into dihydroconiferin [3-(3-methoxy-4-O-β-d-glucopyranosylphenyl)propan-1-ol]. The conversion ratio and the excretion ratio of the conversion products from methyl salicylate were higher than those from the more polar p-hydroxyacetophenone, 3,5-dimethoxyphenol and coniferyl alcohol. Among the conversion products, in particular, the excretion ratio (ER) of a glucoside into the medium decreased in proportion to the quotient of substrate's Mr divided by its RRt on reversed phase HPLC ( - ER α Mr/RRt). © 1983.