Enrichment of Ginsenoside Rd in Panax ginseng Extract with Combination of Enzyme Treatment and High Hydrostatic Pressure

摘要

Ginsenoside Rd, a minor ginseng saponin, has several pharmacological activities. Traditionally, saponins are extracted using organic solvents or hot water extraction. However, both of these methods have disadvantages such as formation of artefacts and compound decomposition. Additionally, the use of organic solvents for extraction is hazardous to the environment. Therefore, we aimed to produce ginsenoside Rd without using organic solvents or hot extraction. We developed a simultaneous extraction and transformation process for higher yields of ginsenoside Rd using a combination of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) and enzymes. Several commercial glycosidases in various combinations were studied for the enrichment of ginsenoside Rd from major ginsenosides by enzymatic transformation and HHP. We found that treatment with a combination of cellulase (2 U/mL), cellobiase (4 U/mL) and HHP of 100 Mpa at pH 4.8 and 45 degrees C for 24 h resulted in a ginsenoside Rd content of 3.47 +/- 0.35 mg/g of fresh ginseng. This yield is 2.1-fold higher than that of the corresponding enzyme treatment at atmospheric pressure (AP, 0.1 Mpa) at pH 4.8, 45 degrees C and for 24 h. This simultaneous extraction and transformation process can be used for the preparation of Rd enriched ginseng beverage without using hazardous organic solvents.