Biological activities and distribution of plant saponins.

Saponins, classification and occurrence in the plant kingdom

Astragalus L., is one of the largest genuses of flowering plants in the Leguminosae family. Roots of A. membranaceus Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao, A. membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. and its processed products are listed in the China Pharmacopeia for "qi deficiency" syndrome treatment. However, more and more researches on other species of Astragalus have been conducted recently. We summarize the recent researches of Astragalus species in phytochemistry and pharmacology. More than 200 constituents, including saponins and flavonoids, obtained from 46 species of Astragalus genus were collected for this article. In pharmacological studies, crude extracts of Astragalus, as well as isolated constituents showed anti-inflammatory, immunostimulant, antioxidative, anti-cancer, antidiabetic, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, and antiviral activities. The goal of this article is to provide an overview of chemical and pharmacological studies on the Astragalus species over the last 10 years, which could be of value to new drug or food supplement research and development.

https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/19/11/18850/pdf

A Review of Recent Research Progress on the Astragalus Genus

Changing strategies in natural products chemistry

Effects of triterpene saponins from Astragalus species on in vitro cytokine release.

Cycloartane triterpene glycosides from Astragalus trigonus.

Antimicrobial isoflavans from Astragalus species

Cycloartane saponins from Astragalus peregrinus as modulators of lymphocyte proliferation.

Kahiricosides II–V, cycloartane glycosides from an Egyptian collection of Astragalus kahiricus

From the roots of Astragalus kahiricus DC., three known saponins, namely, astraversianin VI, astraversianin X, astragaloside VIII, and a new saponin were isolated and identified by spectral data. The structure of the latter was elucidated by spectral means and assigned as cycloastragenol 3- O-[ beta- D-(2',3'-diacetyl, 4'- trans-2-butenoyl)-xylopyranosyl], 6- O- beta- D-xylopyranoside (kahiricoside I). From the aerial parts of A. hamosus L., the known compounds azukisaponin V and peregrinoside I were isolated. As judged by in vitro tests, the saponins isolated from Astragalus spp. endemic to Egypt were not cytotoxic against a variety of human cancer cells. However, dose-related modulation of lymphocyte proliferation was observed, and structure-activity relationships are described.

Soad M. Toaima

Papers

Cycloartane triterpene glycosides from Astragalus trigonus.

Antimicrobial isoflavans from Astragalus species

Cycloartane saponins from Astragalus peregrinus as modulators of lymphocyte proliferation.

Kahiricosides II–V, cycloartane glycosides from an Egyptian collection of Astragalus kahiricus

Cycloartane and oleanane saponins from egyptian astragalus spp. as modulators of lymphocyte proliferation.