Metabolic and functional diversity of saponins, biosynthetic intermediates and semi-synthetic derivatives.

ABSTRACT: Saponins are widely distributed plant natural products with vast structural and functional diversity. They are typically composed of a hydrophobic aglycone, which is extensively decorated with functional groups prior to the addition of hydrophilic sugar moieties, to result in surface-active amphipathic compounds. The saponins are broadly classified as triterpenoids, steroids or steroidal glycoalkaloids, based on the aglycone structure from which they are derived. The saponins and their biosynthetic intermediates display a variety of biological activities of interest to the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food sectors. Although their relevance in industrial applications has long been recognized, their role in plants is underexplored. Recent research on modulating native pathway flux in saponin

SUBMITTER: Moses T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4266039 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature