Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is frequently used in Asian countries as a traditional medicine. The major components of ginseng are ginsenosides. Among these, ginsenoside compound K has been reported to prevent the formation of malignancy and metastasis of cancer by blocking the formation of tumor and suppressing the invasion of cancer cells. In this study, ginsenoside Rb1 was converted into compound K, via secreted β-glucosidase enzyme from the Leuconostoc lactis DC201 isolated, which was extracted from Kimchi. The strain DC201 was suspended and cultured in MRS broth at 37℃. Subsequently, the residue from the cultured broth supernatant was precipitated with EtOH and then dissolved in 20 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 6.0) to obtain an enzyme liquid. Meanwhile, the crude enzyme solution was mixed with ginsenoside Rb1 at a ratio of 1:4 (v/v).The reaction was carried out at 30℃ and 190 rpm for 72 hours, and then analyzed by TLC and HPLC. The result showed that ginsenoside Rb1 was transformed into compound K after 72 hours post reaction.

전세계적으로 널리 복용되고 있음에도 불구하고 인삼이 중추신경계에 미치는 효과에 대한 세포수준에서의 증거는 별로 없다. 따라서 본 연구자들은 지금까지 보고된 30여종 이상의 ginsenosides 중에서 인삼 효과의 주된 활성성분으로 알려져 있는 Rb1과 Rg1을 이용해 해마신경전구세포의 분화와 증식에 미치는 효과를 연구하였다. 증식실험결과 Rb1과 Rg1을 3일 동안 해마신경전구세포에 처리하면 대조군에 비해 BrdU(+)세포수가 상당히 감소한 반면에 분