More than 100 triterpene glycosides (saponins) have been characterized in holothuroids in the past several decades. In particular, Holothuria forskali contains 26 saponins in its Cuvierian tubules and 12 in its body wall. This high diversity could be linked to a chemical defense mechanism, the most commonly accepted biological role for these secondary metabolites. We performed an integrated stu...

Echinodermata use saponins in chemical defense against pathogens and predators. The molecular mechanisms of antimetastatic effects of brittle star saponins are still unknown. The present study examined antioxidant capacity and invasive ability in HeLa carcinoma cells exposed to brittle star crude saponins. Discolorating methods with DPPH and ABTS and expression of SOD-2 with RT-PCR were used to...

Roots of the herb Panax ginseng are known to contain high levels of bioactive saponins. Here, we isolated saponins from ginseng root powder and studied their inhibitory effect on the absorption of dietary fat in male Balb/c mice. Consumption of ginseng saponins suppressed the expected increase in body weight and plasma triacylglycerols, following a high-fat diet and observed higher intake. Cons...

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a cytokine that plays an important role in inflammatory process and tumor development. Recent studies demonstrate that triterpene saponins from Vietnamese ginseng are efficient inhibitors of TNF-α. But the interactions between TNF-α and the saponins are still unclear. In this study, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations of TNF-α with three d...

Issus coleoptratus is a small plant hopper which mainly feeds on the phloem sap from ivy. Although all parts of ivy are poisonous as the plant contains saponins, especially hederasaponins, I. coleoptratus can cope with the poison. In contrast to other animals like the stick insect Carausius morosus which accumulates saponins in its body, I. coleoptratus can degrade and disintegrate not only the...

Saponins isolated from Medicago sativa L. appeared to stimulate lipolytic activity and did not influence amylolytic or proteolytic activity of Neopancreatinum (extract of pancreatic enzymes: lipase, proteases and amylases). Saponins isolated from the aerial part of Medicago sativa L. were demonstrated to stimulate lipase activity more effectively than saponins separated from the root of this pl...

The growing public concerns over chemical residues in animal-derived foods and threats of antibiotic-resistant bacteria have renewed interest in exploring safer alternatives to chemical feed additives in ruminant livestock. Various bioactive phytochemicals including saponins appear to be potential 'natural' alternatives to 'chemical' additives in modulating rumen fermentation favourably and ani...

Argentatins A–C (1–3), the major cycloartane-type triterpenoids of guayule resin, a byproduct commercial rubber production, were converted into their pyrimidine (7–12), thiazole (13–15), and indole (16–18) analogues by molecular hybridization approach. The cytotoxic activities these fused heterocyclic 7–18 compared with those argentatins (1–3) against panel three sentinel human cancer cell line...