One-Pot Process for the Production of Ginsenoside Rd by Coupling Enzyme-Assisted Extraction with Selective Enzymolysis

Synthesis of L-aspartic acid-based bimetallic hybrid nanoflowers to immobilize snailase for the production of rare ginsenoside compound K

The conversion of the common ginsenoside Rb1 to the rare ginsenoside compound K (CK) using snailase (Sna) is an efficient method for industrial production. In order to improve the stability and recoverability of Sna during the catalytic conversion of ginsenosides, the cage-like immobilised Sna material ZIF-ZnCo-Sna and the hybrid nanoflower-based immobilised Sna material Asp@ZIF-ZnCo-Sna modified with L-aspartic acid (Asp) were synthesised using a one-step method. The addition of Asp provides a richer ligand pattern and the morphology of the material changed from a cage to a hybrid nanoflower. The modified hybrid nanoflower Asp@ZIF-ZnCo-Sna has a larger specific surface area, resulting in an enzyme loading of 142.57 mg g^-1. The more abundant mesopores allowed the enzyme to maintain a good conformation and the enzyme activity was 79.8% of that of the free Sna. In addition, the total conversion rate of Asp@ZIF-ZnCo-Sna to ginsenoside Rb1 was as high as 88.35%, whereas that of ZIF-ZnCo-Sna was 79.12%. Moreover, after 6 cycles, the catalytic conversion of ZIF-ZnCo-Sna and Asp@ZIF-ZnCo-Sna and the crystalline shape remained the same, indicating that both composites have good stability and catalytic properties. This new approach of improving the MOF morphology and enzymatic activity by a one-step addition of small biological molecules provides a simple, rapid, and effective strategy for biocatalysis. It also provides a certain reference value for the immobilized Sna to produce rare ginsenoside CK.

Upgrading the accumulation of ginsenoside Rd in Panax notoginseng by a novel glycosidase-producing endophytic fungus G11-7

A novel endophytic fungus producing beta-glucosidase was isolated and characterized from pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan [L.] Millsp.), which has excellent properties in converting ginsenoside Rb1 to ginsenoside Rd in Panax notoginseng. According to the 16S rDNA gene sequence, the G11-7 strain was identified as Fusarium proliferatum, and the accession number KY303906 was confirmed in GenBank. The G11-7 immobilized spores, in which the activity of beta-glucosidase could reach 0.95 U/mL, were co-cultured with P. notoginseng plant material to obtain a continuous beta-glucosidase supply for the biotransformation of ginsenoside Rb1 to Rd. Under the liquid-solid ratio (20:1), initial pH (6.0), and temperature (30 °C) constituents, the maximum ginsenoside Rd yield was obtained as 9.15 ± 0.65 mg/g, which was 3.67-fold higher than that without fungal spore co-culture (2.49 ± 0.98 mg/g). Furthermore, immobilized G11-7 spores showed significant beta-glucosidase producing ability which could be recovered and reused for 6 cycles. Overall, these results suggested that immobilized G11-7 offered a promising and effective approach to enhance the production of ginsenoside Rd for possible nutraceutical and pharmaceutical uses.

Biotransformation, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacological Activities of Ginsenoside Rd Against Multiple Diseases

Panax ginseng C.A. Mey. has a history of more than 4000 years and is widely used in Asian countries. Modern pharmacological studies have proved that ginsenosides and their compounds have a variety of significant biological activities on specific diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, certain types of cancer, gastrointestinal disease, and metabolic diseases, in which most of the interest has focused on ginsenoside Rd. The evidentiary basis showed that ginsenoside Rd ameliorates ischemic stroke, nerve injury, cancer, and other diseases involved in apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, and autophagy. In this review, we summarized available reports on the molecular biological mechanisms of ginsenoside Rd in neurological diseases, cancer, metabolic diseases, and other diseases. We also discussed the main biotransformation pathways of ginsenoside Rd obtained by fermentation.

Insights into Recent Studies on Biotransformation and Pharmacological Activities of Ginsenoside Rd

It is well known that ginsenosides—major bioactive constituents of Panax ginseng—are attracting more attention due to their beneficial pharmacological activities. Ginsenoside Rd, belonging to protopanaxadiol (PPD)-type ginsenosides, exhibits diverse and powerful pharmacological activities. In recent decades, nearly 300 studies on the pharmacological activities of Rd—as a potential treatment for a variety of diseases—have been published. However, no specific, comprehensive reviews have been documented to date. The present review not only summarizes the in vitro and in vivo studies on the health benefits of Rd, including anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, ischemic stroke, immunoregulation, and other pharmacological effects, it also delves into the inclusion of potential molecular mechanisms, providing an overview of future prospects for the use of Rd in the treatment of chronic metabolic diseases and neurodegenerative disorders. Although biotransformation, pharmacokinetics, and clinical studies of Rd have also been reviewed, clinical trial data of Rd are limited; the only data available are for its treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Therefore, clinical evidence of Rd should be considered in future studies.