Production of saponin in fermentation process of Sanchi (Panax notoginseng) and biotransformation of saponin byBacillus subtilis

An antitumor compound ginsenoside Rh₄ was produced during the fermentation process of Sanchi (Panax notoginseng) byBacillus subtilis. Saponins ginsenosides Rh₁ and Re were transformed byB. subtilis and were produced two main transformed products. the transformed product of ginsenoside Rh₁ was determined to be 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-6-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-20(S)-protopanaxatriol, and the transformed product of ginsenoside Re had 162 atomic mass units (amu) greater than the substrate. Compard with the substrates, the transformed products had one more glucosyl moiety linked respectively, which indicated that glycosylion reaction occurred in the transformation process.