Enzymatic transformation of ginsenosides Re, Rg1, and Rf to ginsenosides Rg2 and aglycon PPT by using β -glucosidase from Thermotoga neapolitana

Objectives To enzymatically transform protopanaxatriol by using β -glucosidase from Thermotoga neapolitana ( T. neapolitana ) DSM 4359. Results Recombinant β -glucosidase was purified, which molecular weight was about 79.5 kDa. High levels of ginsenoside were obtained using the follow reaction conditions: 2 mg ml −1 ginsenoside, 25 U ml −1 enzyme, 85 °C, and pH 5.0. β -glucosidase converted ginsenoside Re to Rg2, Rf and Rg1 to APPT completely after 3 h under the given conditions, respectively. The enzyme created 1.66 mg ml −1 Rg2 from Re with 553 mg l −1 h −1 , 0.85 mg ml −1 , and 1.01 mg ml −1 APPT from Rg1 and Rf with 283 and 316 mg l −1 h −1 APPT. Conclusions β -glucosidase could be useful for the high-yield, rapid, and low-cost preparation of ginsenoside Rg2 from Re, and APPT from the ginsenosides Rg1 and Rf.