Description
Ginsenosidase type I is slightly activated by Mg2+ or Ca2+. The enzyme hydrolyses the 3-O-β-D-(1→2)-glucosidic bond, the 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl bond and the 20-O-β-D-(1→6)-glycosidic bond of protopanaxadiol-type ginsenosides. It usually leaves a single glucosyl residue attached at position 20 and one or no glucosyl residues at position 3. Starting with a ginsenoside that is glycosylated at both positions (e.g. ginsenoside Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, Rc or Rd), the most common products are ginsenoside F2 and ginsenoside C-K, with low amounts of ginsenoside Rh2