Enhanced Production of Gypenoside LXXV Using a Novel Ginsenoside-Transforming beta-Glucosidase from Ginseng-Cultivating Soil Bacteria and Its Anti-Cancer Property

Abstract

Minor ginsenosides, such as compound K, Rg(3)(S), which can be produced by deglycosylation of ginsenosides Rb-1, showed strong anti-cancer effects. However, the anticancer effects of gypenoside LXXV, which is one of the deglycosylated shapes of ginsenoside Rb-1, is still unknown due to the rarity of its content in plants. Here, we cloned and characterized a novel ginsenoside-transforming beta-glucosidase (BglG167b) derived from Microbacterium sp. Gsoil 167 which can efficiently hydrolyze gypenoside XVII into gypenoside LXXV, and applied it to the production of gypenoside LXXV at the gram-scale with high specificity. In addition, the anti-cancer activity of gypenoside LXXV was investigated against three cancer cell lines (HeLa, B16, and MDA-MB231) in vitro. Gypenoside LXXV significantly reduced cell viability, displaying an enhanced anti-cancer effect compared to gypenoside XVII and Rb-1. Taken together, this enzymatic method would be useful in the preparation of gypenoside LXXV for the functional food and pharmaceutical industries.