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Structural diversity, natural sources, and pharmacological potential of plant-based saponins with special focus on anticancer activity: a review

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Abstract

Saponins are a class of amphipathic glycosides prevalent in various plant species. They are very important for human health and may be used in various drug formulations. Saponins play vital roles in inhibition of many singling pathways such as PI3K/AKT pathway, AKT/MAPK pathway, EGFR/PI3K/AKT pathway, PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, and RNF6/AKT/mTOR pathway. They have been reported to exhibit cytotoxic activities on HepG2, NCI-H460, MCF-7, HT1080, A549, Hela, LN229, H1299, SGC7901, and MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines. Several types of bioactive saponins such as Dammarane, Cycloartane, Hopane, Lupane, Oleanane, Ursane, Steroids, Spirostanol, and Furastanol have been reported from various plant species. The present review mainly focuses on the sources of medicinal-plant-based saponins with biological activities. This review covers ~101 references from 2015 to 2019.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, 202002, India

    Mohd Rehan &  Shafiullah

  2. Cancer Pharmacology Division, CSIR-IIIM, Sanatnagar, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, 190005, India

    Sameer A. Mir

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  1. Mohd Rehan
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  2. Shafiullah
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Rehan, M., Shafiullah & Mir, S.A. Structural diversity, natural sources, and pharmacological potential of plant-based saponins with special focus on anticancer activity: a review. Med Chem Res 29, 1707–1722 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00044-020-02600-w

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