Insights into gastrointestinal microbiota-generated ginsenoside metabolites and their bioactivities.

Insights into gastrointestinal microbiota-generated ginsenoside metabolites and their bioactivities. Drug Metab Rev. 2020 Jan 26;:1-14 Authors: Yang L, Zou H, Gao Y, Luo J, Xie X, Meng W, Zhou H, Tan Z Abstract The gastrointestinal microbiota and host co-evolve into a complex 'super-organism,' and this relationship plays a vital role in many physiological processes, such as drug metabolism. Ginseng is an important medicinal resource and the main ingredients are ginsenosides, which are less polar, difficult to absorb, and have low bioavailability. However, studies have shown that the biological activity of ginsenosides such as compound K (CK), ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3), ginsenoside Rh2 (Rh2), 20(S)-protopanaxatriol (20(S)-PPT), and 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (20(S)-PPD) is closely related to the gastrointestinal microbiota. In this paper, the metabolic pathway of gastrointestinal microbiota-generated ginsenosides and the main pharmacological effects of these metabolites are discussed. Furthermore, our study provides a new insight into the discovery of novel drugs. Specifically, in new drug screening process, candidates with low biological activity and bioavailability should not be excluded. Because their metabolites may exhibit good pharmacological effects due to the involvement of the gastrointestinal microbiota. In addition, in further research studies to develop probiotics, a combination of agents could exert greater efficacy than single ag...
Source: Drug Metabolism Reviews - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Drug Metab Rev Source Type: research