Production of beta-glucuronidase type enzyme, hydrolysis of glycyrrhizine and of beta-glycyrrhetinic acid

摘要

Process for the production of an enzyme of the beta -glucuronidase type comprising the culture of a microorganism, performed in a medium containing at least one source of carbon and a source of nitrogen, and the extraction and the purification of the enzyme from the biomass and/or from the culture medium. According to the invention the enzyme is produced by the culture of a microorganism of the Aspergillus type or of its variants and mutants. The invention also relates to a process for hydrolysis of a solution of glycyrrhizine or of plant extracts containing it and containing or not containing up to 20 % by volume of ethyl alcohol. The invention also relates to a process for the production of 18 beta -glycyrrhetinic acid, in which glycyrrhizine or a plant extract containing it is hydrolysed. The invention also relates to a liquorice extract containing or not containing ethyl alcohol, which has a reduced or nil content of glycyrrhyzine obtained by the hydrolysis of glycyrrhyzine and the removal of the 18 beta -glycyrrhetinic acid formed.