SAPONINS

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SAPONINS
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Introduction to Saponins

• Saponins plant constituent which bring about
  frothing in an aqueous solution. Historically
  used for their detergent properties.
• Saponins glycosides
• Saponins have haemolytic properties ? when
  injected into the blood stream are highly toxic
  (used as an arrow poisons).
• When taken orally, saponins are harmless.
• 2 Types of saponins are recognized pentacyclic
  triterpenoid and steroidal types.

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Saponins Glycosides

• Therefore hydrolyzed (by acids) to give an
  aglycone and different sugars related to uronic
  acids.
• Aglycone called sapogenin (insoluble in water).
• Structure of the sapogenin (aglycone) determines
  the type of saponin
• (steroidal or tetracyclic triterpenoid and
  pentacyclic types).
• Both types of glycosides have a glycosidal
  linkage at C-3.
• Both types of saponins have a common biogenic
  origin (mevalonic acid and isoprenoid units)

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Pentacyclic Triterpenoid Saponins

• Rare in monocotyledons, but abundant in
  dicotyledons.
• Sapogenin is attached to a chain of sugar or
  uronic acid units (or both) often in the C-3
  position.

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Steroidal Saponins

• Also called tetracyclic triterpenoids
• Found in many monocotyledons such as Wild yam
  (Dioscorea vilosa).
• Saponin Diosgenin.
• Also found in dicotyledons fenugreek.
• Strophanthus and Digitalis contain both steroidal
  saponins (glycosides) and cardiac glycosides.

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Significance of Steroidal Saponins

• Generate much interest due to their relationship
  with compounds such as sex hormones, cortisone,
  diuretic steroids, vitamin D and the cardiac
  glycosides.
• Some are used as starting materials for the
  synthesis of these compounds.
• Diosgenin is the main sapogenin used by industry .

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Biogenesis of Steroidal Saponins

• Formed via the mevalonic acid pathway.
• During this pathway, cholesterol forms part of
  numerous sapogenins (not all).

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Natural Steroids for the Production of
Pharmaceuticals

• Natural products serve as starting points for the
  partial synthesis of commercial products.
• E.g. Cortisone synthesized from Hecogenin.
• Sex horomones (oral contraceptives)
  synthesized from diosgenin.
• Diosgenin can also be used to make
  corticosteriods.

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Dioscorea villosa - Dioscoreaceae

• Definition Wild yam is the underground roots
  and tubers of Dioscorea villosa.
• There is no suggestion that the plant was used as
  a contraceptive in the past. It has, however
  traditionally been used to treat menstrual,
  ovarian labour pains.

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Dioscorea villosa Wild Yam

• Constituents
• Steroidal saponins
• (mainly dioscin)
• Phytosterols, alkaloids, tannins, starch.
• Actions
• Anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory,
  anti-rheumatic, diaphoretic, diuretic, qi tonic,
  expectorant

• OTHER USES
• In Zulu traditions, wild yam is used to treat
  convulsions, epilepsy and hysteria.
• Also used for colic, dry cough, depression,
  diarrhoea, diabetes, emotional weakness, immune
  weakness, IBS, leg pain, low sperm count, lung
  weakness, morning sickness, neuralgia, night
  sweats, RA, senility, spermatorrhoea, threatened
  miscarriage.
• Topically salve for eczema, poultice for
  bruises and scabies.

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Eleutherococcus senticosus - Aralaiceae

• Definition Siberian ginseng consists of the
  dried roots and rhizomes of Eleutherococcus
  senticosus.
• Unlike other medicinal herbs, this one is better
  at maintaining good health rather than treating
  illness.

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Siberian Ginseng Eleuthrococcus

• Constituents
• Triterpenoid saponins
• Glycans
• Polysaccharides
• Coumarins
• Lignins
• Actions
• Adaptogen
• Tonic
• Immune-modulator

• Uses
• Insomnia
• Stress
• Surgery Recovery
• Chemotherapy patients
• Cardiovascular disease
• CONTRA-INDICATIONS
• Continuous use
• Hypertensive patients

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Ginseng Panax ginseng

• Definition Ginseng consists of the dried or
  fresh roots of Panax ginseng. Also called
  Korean or Asian ginseng.

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Panax ginseng Korean Ginseng

• Medicinal Uses
• To Improve stamina, reaction time, decrease high
  cholesterol.
• Speeds up recovery time after illness, childbirth
  and surgery.
• Aids, Alzheimers, anaemia, appetite loss,
  chronic fatigue, depression, infertility, memory
  loss, tacchycardia, PTSS.
• Helps soften skin anti-wrinkle products.
• Leaves can be used for fever.
• Effects cumulative work best after a period
  of use, but should not for excessive/continuous
  use.

• Active Constituents
• Triterpenoid saponins (ginsenosides), B vitamins,
  selenium, phytosterols, volatile oils.
• Medicinal Actions
• Adaptogenic tonic, anti-inflammatory,
  anti-oxidant, anti-spasmodic, cardiotonic,
  hepatoprotective, immune-stimulant, nervine

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Panax ginseng Contra-indications

• Should not be used if pregnant or lactating.
• Not to be used in cases of heat or inflammation.
• Should not be taken if suffering from flu, fever,
  pneumonia, constipation or hypertension.

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Trigonella foenum-graecum Fabaceae (Legume
Family)

• Definition Fenugreek consists of the dried
  seeds of Trigonella foenum-graecum.

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Fenugreek - Trigonella

• Medicinal Actions
• Anti-inflammatory, carminative, antiseptic,
  emollient, expectorant, hypoglycaemic,
  phytoeostrogenic.
• Medicinal Uses
• Stabilize blood glucose levels, anorexia,
  catarrh, cough, sore throat. Topically for
  boils, burns, cellulitis, gargle for sore
  throats, eyewash for inflammed eyes and a facial
  wash.

• Active Constituents
• Steroidal saponins (diosgenin, yamogenin), B
  vitamins, alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids,
  courmarin, mucilage.
• NOTE Should not be used to treat diabetes
  without professional supervision.

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Quillaja saponaria Rosaceae

• Definition Quillaia bark consits of the dried
  inner bark of Quillaja saponaria.
• It is also called Soap bark, Quillaia or Panama
  wood.

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Quillaia Bark - Constituents

• Mixture of saponins (10)
• On hydrolysis main sapogenin ? quillaic acid
  gypsogenin.
• Also consists of sugars, starch and calcium
  oxalates.

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Quillaia Bark - Uses

• Used as an emulsifying agent.

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Glycyrrhiza glabra - Leguminosae

• Definition Liquorice consists of the dried
  unpeeled roots and stolons of Glycyrrhiza glabra.

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Glycyrrhiza Cultivation Collection

• Plants grow well in deep sandy, fertile soil.
• The underground parts are collected in their
  3rd-4th year.
• Dug up washed.
• Some are peeled and cut shorter before drying
  others are left unpeeled.
• Imported in bales, or made into stick or block
  liquorice (decoction).

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Glycyrrhiza glabra - Constituents

• Glycrrhizin responsible for the sweet taste.
• Glycerrhizic acid triterpenoid saponin.
• Flavonoids responsible for yellow colour.
• Liquiritin a chalcone
• Sugars (glucose and sucrose), protein starch.
• Glycyramarin bitter principles (mostly in outer
  tissue removed in peeled varieties)

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Glycyrrhiza glabra - Adulterants

• Glycyrrhiza uralensis
• Glycyrrhiza hirsutu
• Glycyrrhiza echinata
• Glycyrrhiza macedonia
• Glycyrrhiza pallidiflora

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Glycyrrhiza glabra Actions Uses

• Actions
• Demulcent
• Expectorant
• Anti-microbial/anti-viral
• Anti-spasmodic
• Anti-Ulcerogenic
• Uses
• Flavouring agent
• RA
• Addisons disease
• Inflammatory conditions
• Peptic ulcers

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Polygala senega - Polygalaceae

• Definition Senega consists of the dried
  rootstock and root of Polygala senega.

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Polygala senega Constituents

• Triterpenoid Saponins
• Main saponin senegin
• consisting of senegenin
• senegenic acid
• polygalic acid
• Also contains sorbitol (sweet taste), sucrose,
  fat and sterols.

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Polygala senega - Adulterants

• White senega Polygala alba
• Southern senega Polygala boykini
• Pakistan senega Glinus oppositifolius
• Turkey senega Polygala pruinosa

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Polygala senega - Uses

• Actions
• Stimulant expectorant
• Uses
• Chronic bronchitis
• TRADITIONAL USES
• First used by the Native American Indians as a
  remedy for snake-bite. It was later used by the
  English as cure for pleurisy and pneumonia.

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Genitana lutea - Gentianaceae

• Definition Gentian consists of the dried,
  fermented roots and rhizomes of the yellow
  gentian, Gentiana lutea.

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Gentiana Collection Preparation

• In Autumn the Roots are dug up in plants 2-5
  years old.
• There is no demand for the unfermented white
  gentian, all commercial drugs consist of the
  fermented red variety.
• Herb is made into heaps, packed on a hillside and
  occasionally covered with earth and left there
  for some time.
• Washed and cut into slices.
• Dried open air and then in sheds.
• When prepared this way, the herb becomes much
  darker in colour (fermented), loses some of its
  bitterness and acquires a distinctive odour.

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Gentiana lutea

• Allied Drugs
• Gentiana purpurea
• Gentiana pannonica
• Gentiana punctata
• Gentiana kurroo
• Picrohiza kurroo
• Adulterants
• Rumex alpinus rhizomes (give a positive test for
  anthraquinones).
• Veratrum album

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Gentiana lutea - Constituents

• Gentiopicroside and gentiogenin
• Also bitter glycosides, alkaloids, yellow
  colouring matter, sugars, pectin and fixed oil.

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Gentiana lutea - Uses

• Actions
• Bitter
• Uses
• Bitter tonic
• Liver disorders

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Picrasma excelsa - Simaroubaceae

• Quassia wood consists of the stem wood of
  Picrasma excelsa, commercially known as Jamaica
  quassia.

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Picrasma excelsa - Constituents

• Quassia consits of
• Triterpenoid saponin quassin (bitter principle)
• Neoquassin
• USES
• Bitter tonic
• Insecticide
• Enema for thread worms

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Saponins Summary

• 2 types
• Wild Yam, Fenugreek, Ginseng Siberian Ginseng,
  Gentian, Liquorice, Quassia, Quillaia and Senega
• Generally responsible for an expectorant action.