SAPONINS

Introduction to Saponins
Saponins

plant constituent which bring about frothing in an aqueous solution. Historically used for their detergent properties. = glycosides

Saponins Saponins

ha e hae!olytic properties when in"ected into the blood strea! are highly to#ic $used as an arrow poisons%. ta'en orally( saponins are har!less.

&hen )

*ypes of saponins are recogni+ed pentacyclic triterpenoid and steroidal types.

Saponins = ,lycosides
*herefore hydroly+ed $by acids% to gi e an aglycone and different sugars related to uronic acids.

Aglycone called sapogenin $insoluble in water%. Structure of the sapogenin $aglycone% deter!ines the type of saponin $steroidal or tetracyclic triterpenoid and pentacyclic types%. -oth types of glycosides ha e a glycosidal lin'age at ./ 0. -oth types of saponins ha e a co!!on biogenic origin $!e alonic acid and isoprenoid units%

Pentacyclic *riterpenoid Saponins

1are

in !onocotyledons( but abundant in dicotyledons. is attached to a chain of sugar or uronic acid units $or both% often in the ./0 position.

Sapogenin

Also called tetracyclic triterpenoids

Steroidal Saponins

2ound in !any !onocotyledons such as &ild ya! $Dioscorea vilosa%. Saponin 3iosgenin. Also found in dicotyledons fenugree'. Strophanthus and Digitalis contain both steroidal saponins $glycosides% and cardiac glycosides.

Significance of Steroidal Saponins

,enerate !uch interest due to their relationship with co!pounds such as se# hor!ones( cortisone( diuretic steroids( ita!in 3 and the cardiac glycosides. So!e are used as starting !aterials for the synthesis of these co!pounds. 3iosgenin is the !ain sapogenin used by industry .

-iogenesis of Steroidal Saponins

2or!ed

ia the !e alonic acid pathway. this pathway( cholesterol for!s part of nu!erous sapogenins $not all%.

3uring

Natural Steroids for the Production of Phar!aceuticals

Natural products ser e as starting points for the partial synthesis of co!!ercial products. 4.g. .ortisone synthesi+ed fro! Hecogenin. Se# horo!ones $oral contracepti es% synthesi+ed fro! diosgenin. 3iosgenin can also be used to !a'e corticosteriods.

Dioscorea villosa / 3ioscoreaceae

3efinition5 &ild ya! is the underground roots and tubers of Dioscorea villosa. *here is no suggestion that the plant was used as a contracepti e in the past. It has( howe er traditionally been used to treat !enstrual( o arian 6 labour pains.

Dioscorea villosa &ild 7a!

.onstituents

Steroidal saponins $!ainly dioscin% Phytosterols( al'aloids( tannins( starch.

O*H41 8S4S In 9ulu traditions( wild ya! is used to treat con ulsions( epilepsy and hysteria.

Actions5

Anti/spas!odic( anti/ infla!!atory( anti/rheu!atic( diaphoretic( diuretic( qi tonic( e#pectorant

Also used for colic( dry cough( depression( diarrhoea( diabetes( e!otional wea'ness( i!!une wea'ness( I-S( leg pain( low sper! count( lung wea'ness( !orning sic'ness( neuralgia( night sweats( 1A( senility( sper!atorrhoea( threatened !iscarriage. *opically5 sal e for ec+e!a( poultice for bruises and scabies.

Eleutherococcus senticosus / Aralaiceae

3efinition5 Siberian ginseng consists of the dried roots and rhi+o!es of Eleutherococcus senticosus. 8nli'e other !edicinal herbs( this one is better at !aintaining good health rather than treating illness.

Siberian ,inseng Eleuthrococcus

.onstituents

8ses

*riterpenoid saponins ,lycans Polysaccharides .ou!arins :ignins

Inso!nia Stress Surgery 1eco ery .he!otherapy patients .ardio ascular disease

Actions Adaptogen *onic I!!une/!odulator

.ON*1A/IN3I.A*IONS .ontinuous use Hypertensi e patients

,inseng Panax ginseng

3efinition5 ,inseng consists of the dried or fresh roots of Panax ginseng. Also called ;orean or Asian ginseng.

Panax ginseng ;orean ,inseng

<edicinal 8ses
*o I!pro e sta!ina( reaction ti!e( decrease high cholesterol. Speeds up reco ery ti!e after illness( childbirth and surgery. Aids( Al+hei!er=s( anae!ia( appetite loss( chronic fatigue( depression( infertility( !e!ory loss( tacchycardia( P*SS. Helps soften s'in anti/ wrin'le products. :ea es can be used for fe er. 4ffects cu!ulati e wor' best after a period of use( but should not for

Acti e .onstituents

*riterpenoid saponins $ginsenosides%( - ita!ins( seleniu!( phytosterols( olatile oils.

<edicinal Actions5

Adaptogenic tonic( anti/ infla!!atory( anti/o#idant( anti/spas!odic( cardiotonic( hepatoprotecti e( i!!une/ sti!ulant( ner ine

Panax ginseng .ontra/indications

Should

not be used if pregnant or lactating. Not to be used in cases of heat or infla!!ation. Should not be ta'en if suffering fro! flu( fe er( pneu!onia( constipation or hypertension.

Trigonella foenum-graecum 2abaceae $:egu!e 2a!ily%

3efinition5

2enugree' consists of the dried seeds of Trigonella foenum-graecum.

2enugree' / Trigonella

Acti e .onstituents

<edicinal Actions

Steroidal saponins $diosgenin( ya!ogenin%( ita!ins( al'aloids( glycosides( fla onoids( cour!arin( !ucilage.

Anti/infla!!atory( car!inati e( antiseptic( e!ollient( e#pectorant( hypoglycae!ic( phytoeostrogenic.

<edicinal 8ses5
Stabili+e blood glucose le els( anore#ia( catarrh( cough( sore throat. *opically for boils( burns( cellulitis( gargle for sore throats( eyewash for infla!!ed eyes and a facial wash.

NO*45 Should not be used to treat diabetes without professional super ision.

Quillaja saponaria 1osaceae

3efinition5

?uillaia bar' consits of the dried inner bar' of Quillaja saponaria.

It is also called Soap bar'( ?uillaia or Pana!a wood.

?uillaia -ar' / .onstituents

<i#ture

$@AB%

of saponins

On

hydrolysis5 !ain sapogenin quillaic acid 6 gypsogenin. consists of sugars( starch and calciu! o#alates.

Also

?uillaia -ar' / 8ses

8sed

as an e!ulsifying agent.

Glycyrrhi a gla!ra - :egu!inosae

3efinition5

:iquorice consists of the dried unpeeled roots and stolons of Glycyrrhi a gla!ra.

Glycyrrhi a .ulti ation 6 .ollection

Plants grow well in deep sandy( fertile soil. *he underground parts are collected in their 0rd/Cth year. 3ug up 6 washed. So!e are peeled and cut shorter before dryingD others are left unpeeled. I!ported in bales( or !ade into stic' or bloc' liquorice $decoction%.

Glycyrrhi a gla!ra / .onstituents

,lycrrhi+in

responsible for the sweet taste. acid triterpenoid saponin.

,lycerrhi+ic 2la

onoids responsible for yellow colour. a chalcone

:iquiritin Sugars

$glucose and sucrose%( protein 6 starch.

,lycyra!arin

bitter principles $!ostly in outer tissue re!o ed in peeled arieties%

Glycyrrhi a gla!ra / Adulterants

Glycyrrhi Glycyrrhi Glycyrrhi Glycyrrhi

a uralensis a hirsutu a echinata

a mace"onia a palli"iflora

Glycyrrhi

Glycyrrhi a gla!ra Actions 6 8ses

Actions

3e!ulcent 4#pectorant Anti/!icrobial>anti/ iral Anti/spas!odic Anti/8lcerogenic

8ses

2la ouring agent 1A Addison=s disease Infla!!atory conditions Peptic ulcers

Polygala senega / Polygalaceae

3efinition5

Senega consists of the dried rootstoc' and root of Polygala senega.

Polygala senega .onstituents

*riterpenoid
consisting

Saponins <ain saponin senegin

of senegenin senegenic acid polygalic acid

Also contains sorbitol $sweet taste%( sucrose( fat and sterols.

Polygala senega / Adulterants

&hite senega Polygala al!a Southern senega Polygala !oy#ini Pa'istan senega Glinus oppositifolius *ur'ey senega Polygala pruinosa

Polygala senega / 8ses

Actions

Sti!ulant e#pectorant

8ses

.hronic bronchitis

*1A3I*IONA: 8S4S 2irst used by the Nati e A!erican Indians as a re!edy for sna'e/bite. It was later used by the 4nglish as cure for pleurisy and pneu!onia.

Genitana lutea / ,entianaceae

3efinition5

,entian consists of the dried( fer!ented roots and rhi+o!es of the yellow gentian( Gentiana lutea.

In Autu!n the 1oots are dug up in plants )/E years old. *here is no de!and for the unfer!ented Fwhite= gentian( all co!!ercial drugs consist of the fer!ented Fred= ariety. Herb is !ade into heaps( pac'ed on a hillside and occasionally co ered with earth and left there for so!e ti!e. &ashed and cut into slices. 3ried5 open air and then in sheds. &hen prepared this way( the herb beco!es !uch dar'er in colour $fer!ented%( loses so!e of its bitterness and

Gentiana .ollection 6 Preparation

Gentiana lutea

Allied 3rugs

Gentiana purpurea Gentiana pannonica Gentiana punctata Gentiana #urroo Picrohi a #urroo

Adulterants

$umex alpinus rhi+o!es $gi e a positi e test for anthraquinones%. %eratrum al!um

Gentiana lutea / .onstituents

,entiopicroside

and

gentiogenin
Also

bitter glycosides( al'aloids( yellow colouring !atter( sugars( pectin and fi#ed oil.

Gentiana lutea / 8ses

Actions
-itter

8ses
-itter

tonic :i er disorders

Picrasma excelsa / Si!aroubaceae

?uassia

wood consists of the ste! wood of Picrasma excelsa( co!!ercially 'nown as Ga!aica quassia.

Picrasma excelsa / .onstituents

?uassia

consits of

*riterpenoid

saponin quassin $bitter principle% Neoquassin 8S4S -itter tonic Insecticide 4ne!a for thread wor!s

Saponins5 Su!!ary
)

types

&ild

7a!( 2enugree'( ,inseng 6 Siberian ,inseng( ,entian( :iquorice( ?uassia( ?uillaia and Senega

,enerally responsible for an e#pectorant action.