Streptococcus LJ-22, a human intestinal bacterium, transformed glycyrrhizin to 18$\beta$-glycyrrhetinic acid monoglucuronide

Glycyrrhizin (18$\beta$-glycyrrhetic acid $\beta$-D-glucuronyl a-D-glucuronic acid, GL), a main component of liquore extract (Glycyrrhiza glabra), is ingested orally as a component in the oriental medicine. By human intestinal bacteria, glycyrrhizin (18$\beta$-glycyrrhetinic acid $\beta$-D-glucuronyl a-D-glucuronic acid, GL) was metabolized to glycyrrhetinic acid (GA): main pathway metabolizing GL to GA by glucuronidases of Bacteroides J-37 (Kim et al., 1997) and Eubacterium sp strain GLH (Akao et al., 1987) and minor pathway metabolizing GL to GA via 18$\beta$-glycyrrhetic acid D-glucuronic acid (GAMG) by $\beta$-glucuronidase of Streptococcus LJ-22 and glucuronidases of Bacteroides J-37 / E. coli. $\beta$-Glucuronidase from Streptococcus LJ-22 hydrolyzed GL to GAMG, not GA. $\beta$-Glucuronidase of Streptococcus LJ-22 hydrolyzed $\beta$-glucuronic acid conjugates of polysaccharides rather than aglycone-$\beta$-glucuronides Optimal pH of Streptococcus LJ-22 $\beta$-glucuronidase was 5-6 and its molecular weight was 250 kDaltons. Km for GL was 0.37mM.