Enzymatic production of 18-b-glycyrrhetinic acid from Glycyrrhiza glabra L.

Enzymatic conversion of glycyrrhizinic acid (GL), from root extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra L., into 18-â-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) was achieved by using a commercial preparation of â-glucuronidase from Aspergillus niger. Two different processes were tested: a batch process and a continuous process. The continuous process was the better one, giving 100% conversion of GL after 5 d and 80% recovery of enzyme activity. The process yielded a product containing 40% GA.