Biotransformation of Ginsenosides Re and Rg1 by the Bacterium Microbacterium sp. GT35

The bacterium Microbacterium sp. GT35 was found to be capable of transforming Re and Rg1, principal ginsenosides of the 20(S)-protopanaxatriol series, into minor glycosides 20(S)-Rg2 and 20(S)-Rh1, respectively. The specificity of Microbacterium sp. GT35 differed from that of several other microorganisms by cleaving only the -D-glucose on C-20 and not affecting the C-6 carbohydrates of 20(S)-protopanaxatriol.