Evaluation of ginsenoside bioconversion of lactic acid bacteria isolated from kimchi.

Background: is a physiologically active plant widely used in traditional medicine that is characterized by the presence of ginsenosides. Rb1, a major ginsenoside, is used as the starting material for producing ginsenoside derivatives with enhanced pharmaceutical potentials through chemical, enzymatic, or microbial transformation.

Methods: To investigate the bioconversion of ginsenoside Rb1, we prepared kimchi originated bacterial strains WiKim19, WiKim20, WiKim47 WiKim48, and WiKim49 and analyzed bioconversion products using LC-MS/MS mass spectrometer.

Results: WiKim19 and WiKim20 converted ginsenoside Rb1 into the ginsenoside Rg3 approximately five times more than WiKim47 WiKim48, and WiKim49. WIKim19 showed positive correlation with β-glucosidase activity and higher transformation ability of ginsenoside Rb1 into Rg3 than the other strains whereas, WiKim20 showed an elevated production of Rb3 even with lack of β-glucosidase activity but have the highest acidity among the five lactic acid bacteria (LAB).

Conclusion: Ginsenoside Rg5 concentration of five LABs have ranged from ∼2.6 μg/mL to 6.5 μg/mL and increased in accordance with the incubation periods. Our results indicate that the enzymatic activity along with acidic condition contribute to the production of minor ginsenoside from lactic acid bacteria.