title: Enzymatic modification of saponins from Platycodon grandiflorum with Aspergillus niger.
abstract: Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC (Campanulaceae) is a traditional medicinal plant. Its root, Platycodi Radix, contains an abundant amount of saponin glycosides, platycodins, of which platycodin D is one of the major components. The chemical structures of platycodins can be modified by various types of chemical processing, but a modification mediated with microorganisms has been not reported yet. In this study, platycodin D was modified to several partially degraded platycodin glycosides after treatment with a crude enzyme extract from Aspergillus niger (A. niger). The modified platycodin D possessed a shorter sugar side-chain, and presented a remarkably reduced V79-4 cell (Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts) cytotoxicity and erythrocyte hemolytic toxicity, whereas the nitrite-scavenging activity was increased in the modified platycodin D. Sensory scores for pungency, bitterness and after-taste were improved as well in the modified platycodin D. Results suggest that A. niger mediated modification yielded a novel partially degraded platycodin glycoside which possesses increased bioactivities and improved sensory values, yet with reduced toxic profiles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University, Shillim-dong, Kwanak-ku, Seoul 151, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Wie
authors.forename: Hai Lin
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jeong Hwa
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Yeong Shik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: In Kyeong
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Geun Eog
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Ji
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000201:enzymology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D006461:Hemolysis; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D031238:Platycodon / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012503:Saponins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D012503:Saponins; D014315:Triterpenes; C108953:platycodin D; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases