Gypsophila saponins

Gypsophila saponins have been shown to possess hypocholesterolemic effects in rat [84], The serum cholesterol levels were significantly lower in saponin-fed rats than in control. In another study, Gypsophila saponins were tested in young rats and the results showed that Gypsophila saponins may reduce Fe absorption and have an adverse effect on the Fe status in human and monogastric animals. However, Gypsophila saponins had no effect on Zn absorption [85, 86], Another report showed that the purified saponins from G. capitata were responsible for the hypocholesterolemic effects in rabbits [87]. 

Elbary et al. [114] have correlated the spermicidal efficacy and the hemolytic index of the saponin fraction of Gypsophila paniculata and saponins derived from other plants. Gypsophila saponins were relatively superior when used either as aqueous solution or as formulation in polyethylene glycol ointment base. 

Saponins A and B isolated from Gypsophila capitata showed significant hypocholesterolemic effects [87] in rabbits. Ulloa and Nervi [119] reported that male Wistar rats fed diets containing Gypsophila saponins showed enhanced biliary cholesterol secretion, which is independent of the input of cholesterol from diet. 

As it can be clearly seen Fig. 2 that Gypsophila species (Caryophyllaceae) are an especially rich source of triterpenoidal saponins [18-20]. Gypsophila saponins are of interest in terms of their applications in vaccines [21]. Saponi-num album (Merck) is a complex mixture of triterpenoid saponins from Gypsophila paniculata and Gypsophila anostii which used to be commercially... 

FIGURE 4 Structure of a typical Gypsophila saponin. Note that amphiphilic structure includes a hydrophobic aglycone (30C) and two hydrophilic sugar chains attached at carbon positions 3 and 28 of the aglycone. The most crucial difference between Gypsophila saponins and other saponins is the formyl group at the position C-4. 

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