Microbial bioconversion of ginsenosides in Panax ginseng and their improved bioactivities

Several studies have investigated the pharmaceutical activity of ginseng. More recent studies have focused on the bioconversion of ginseng using microbial or recombinant enzymes to convert ginseng constituents into molecules with enhanced bioactivity. This review focuses on the bioconversion of Panax ginseng using whole cell preparations instead of isolated enzymes. During fermentation with microorganisms, ginsenosides are converted to various ginsenoside types, whereas, during reaction with isolated enzymes, ginsenosides are converted only to specific ginsenosides. These bioconverted ginsenosides are known to have greater bioactivities such as antioxidative, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hyperglycemic activity than non-fermented ginsenosides. This review suggests that various microbial bioconversed ginsenosides in ginseng can be used as major compounds in the functional food and pharmaceutical industry.