Saponins can be classified as triterpenoid (C30) or steroidal (C27), based on their carbon nucleus (aglycone). Sugar residues are linked to the aglycone, conferring an amphiphilic nature on these molecules, which is relevant for their biological activities. Saponins include a large variety of molecules that find several applications in pharmacology. Saponins have been shown to display immunoadj...

As part of our search for new antifungal agents from natural resources, 22 C-27 steroidal saponins and 6 steroidal sapogenins isolated from several monocotyledonous plants were tested for their antifungal activity against the opportunistic pathogens Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida krusei, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Aspergillus fumigatus. The results showed that the antifungal acti...

Introduction:  Microalgae  are  known  for  their  bioactive  compounds  with  potential applications as antimicrobial, antiaging, and anticancer activities. Spirulina platensis (S. platensis) is a filamentous and photosynthetic microorganism that has 25 kinds of vitamins and minerals that contain many compounds with biotic activity such as alkaloids, phenolic compounds, terpenoids, and saponin...

Background: Holothuroids (sea cucumbers) are members of the phylum echinodermata, which produce saponins. Saponins exhibit a wide spectrum of pharmacological and biological activities. In this study, we isolated the crude saponins from the body wall of the dominant Iranian species of sea cucumber, Holothuria leucospilota (H. leucospilota). The purpose of this study was to confirm the presence o...

Three new cycloartane-type triterpene glycosides have been isolated from the aerial parts of Astragalus trojanus. The structures were established mainly by a combination of one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques [1H-1H-correlation spectroscopy (COSY), 1H-13C-heteronuclear multiple quantum correlation spectroscopy (HMQC), and 1H-13C-heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation spectroscopy (HMBC)] a...

Saponins are natural detergents (surfactants) found in a variety of plants. The two major commercial sources are desert plants: Yucca schidigera from Mexico and Quillaja saponaria from Chile. Yucca saponins have a steroid nucleus, whereas Quillaja saponins are triterpenoid in structure. Saponins contain a lipophilic nucleus (steroid or triterpenoid) and one or more water– soluble carbohydrate s...