Ginsenoside Rd production from the major ginsenoside Rb₁ by β-glucosidase from Thermus caldophilus

Abstract

Under optimum conditions (pH 5, 75°C, and 0.2 U purified enzyme ml⁻¹), 4 mg ginsenoside Rd was produced from 5 mg reagent-grade ginsenoside Rb₁ in 5 ml after 30 min by β-glucosidase from Thermus caldophilus GK24. Using a ginseng root extract containing 1 mg ginsenoside Rb₁ ml⁻¹ and 3.2 mg additional ginsenosides ml⁻¹, 1.23 mg ginsenoside Rd ml⁻¹ was produced after 18 h; the concentrations of ginsenosides Rb₁, Rb₂, and Rc used for ginsenoside Rd production were 0.77, 0.17, and 0.19 mg ml⁻¹, respectively.