Recent progress in the enzymatic glycosylation of phenolic compounds

Phenolic compounds are an important class of chemicals with various beneficial bioactivities. However, they are usually poorly soluble in water and unstable while some of them are toxic. Glycosylation can significantly improve the solubility, stability, and bioactivity of phenolic compounds. The enzymatic method for glycosylation can form a specific glycosidic bond in one step and under environment-friendly conditions. This review covers the progress made in the application of two classes of enzymes, namely, glycosyltransferases and glycosidases, for the glycosylation of phenolic compounds, and illustrates the impact of glycosylation on the properties of these compounds.