Production of Oleanane-type Sapogenin in Transgenic Rice

Panax japonicus C. A. Mey. is a rare traditional Chinese herbal medicine that uses ginsenosides as its main active ingredient. Rice does not produce ginsenosides because it lacks the enzyme β-amyrin synthase (βAS). However, it produces 2,3-oxidosqualene, which is a precursor of ginsenoside.

Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University's Jingui Zheng and a team of researchers inserted the P. japonicus βAS gene into the rice cultivar ‘Taijing 9', resulting in transgenic rice plants. Analysis showed that the transformed βAS gene could be overexpressed and β-amyrin synthase could be expressed in rice. Further analysis revealed the presence of oleanane-type sapogenin oleanolic acid in transgenic rice.

The study is the first report on the transformation of P. japonicus βAS gene into rice. The team has successfully produced a new rice germplasm, "ginseng rice", which produces oleanane-type sapogenin.

For more information, read the full article on BMC Biotechnology.