Advances in the biosynthesis research of ginsenosides

Ginsenosides are the main active components of medicinal herbs including Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolium, which have potent effects of anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and apoptosis inhibition.  But the low content of ginsenosides limits its development and usage.  At present, how to improve the production of ginsenosides by biological technology has been a new research focus.  Some advances in the biosynthesis of ginsenosides by tissue culture and biotransformation have been made in recent years.  So far at least twenty genes related to the biosynthesis of ginsenosides from Panax genus plants have been cloned and functionally identified, which has laid a good foundation for the study on the synthetic biology of ginsenosides.  This review outlines recent advances in several aspects and is expected to provide a theoretical support to the thorough research of the pathway and regulation of ginsenosides biosynthesis.