Phytochemicals saponins

There are few, if any, specific inhibitors of lipase activity. Instead, reported inhibition of lipase by saponins (Han et al., 2002), polysaccharides and tannins (Longstaff and McNab, 1991) is probably due to the non-specific interactions these phytochemicals have with proteins. 

SUZUKI, S., ACHNINE, L., HUHMAN, D., SUMNER, L.W., DIXON, R.A., A functional genomics approach to the triterpene saponin biosynthetic pathway in Medicago truncatula, Phytochemical Society of North America, 2001, Oklahoma City, OK... 

Marston, A., K. Hostettmann, J. B. Harborne, and F. A. Tomas-Barberan. 1991. Plant saponins chemistry and molluscicidal action. Ecological chemistry biochemistry plant terpenoids. Proc. Phytochem. Soc. Europe 31. p. 264-286. 

Soy protein preparations contain a variety of biologically active compounds including saponins, fibers, trypsin inhibitors, and isoflavones (Potter, 2000). Hamsters and rats fed ethanol-extracted soy protein isolates had no ability to lower plasma cholesterol compared to intact soy protein isolates (Lucas et al., 2001 Ni et al., 1999). Extraction with ethanol is a treatment that would remove saponins, isoflavones, and other phytochemicals from the protein. Although one study showed that ethanol washing did not... 

Fenugreek is a rich source of various phytochemicals, especially the steroidal saponins. 

There are abundant and diverse flavonoids with carbohydrates and lipids, alkaloids (betalain alkaloids and other alkaloids), phenols (chromones, cou-marins, lignans, quinines, and other phenolics), terpenoids (monoterpenoids, sesquiterpene lactones, triperpenoid saponins, carotenoids, and other terpenoids), and minerals as micronutritional phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables of our daily diets. Among these phytochemicals, the flavonoids have specific functionality in relation to age-related diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiac infarction, cataracts, and cancer. The authors of each chapter in the first section have presented their evidence in relation to the mechanism of the preventative and therapeutic ability of the compounds. 

Sahu, N. P. Triterpenoid saponins of Mimusops elengi. Phytochem., 1996, 41 883-886. 

Kohara, A., Nakajima, C., Yoshida, S. and Muranaka, T. (2007) Gharacterization and engineering of glucosyltransferases responsible for steroid saponin biosynthesis in Solanaceous plants. Phytochem., 68, 478-86. 

Piacente, S. Pizza, C. Oleszek, W., Saponins and phenolics of Yucca schidigera Roezl Chemistry and bioactivity, Phytochem. Rev., 2005, 4, 177-190. 

Van Setten DC, Zomer G, Van DeWerken G, Wiertz EJHJ, Leeflang BR, Kamerling JP (2000) Ion Trap Multiple-Stage Tandem Mass Spectrometry as a Pre-NMR Tool in the Structure Elucidation of Saponins. Phytochem Anal 11 190... 

Kalinowska M, Zimowski J, Paczkowski C, Wojciechowski ZA (2005) The Formation of Sugar Chains in Triterpenoid Saponins and Glycoalkaloids. Phytochem Rev 4 237... 

Three new triterpenoid saponins, nudicaucin A, -B and -C (62-64) have also been isolated from H. nudicaulis together with a known saponin, guaiacin D (65) [10]. The phytosterols, stigmasterol and sitosterol are frequently reported in most of the phytochemical work on this genus. 

Stimulated by the use in moroccan folk medicine of the aerial parts of Hemiariafontanesii Gay (Catyophyllaceae) for the treatement of lithiasis or as a diuretic, we have undertaken the phytochemical study of this mediterranean endemic species. This led us to isolate three flavonoids [1] and four oleanane saponins [2-4] whose structures are described in this paper. 

Tanaka, O., and S. Yahara Dammarane Saponins of Leaves of Panax pseudo-ginseng subsp. himalaicus. Phytochem. 17, 1353 (1978). 

Yang, T., R. Kasai, J. Zhou, and O. Tanaka Dammarane Saponins of Leaves and Seeds of Panax notoginseng. Phytochem. 22, 1473 (1983). 

Cereal foods are important components of the daily diet, providing carbohydrates, proteins, dietary fibre and vitamins. Cereals are also sources of many phytochemicals, including phytoestrogens, phenolic compounds, saponins, phytic acid and sterols. 

Keywords Cancer therapeutics Curcumin Epigallocatechin gallate Grape seed extract Nanomedicine Phytochemicals Polymeric nanoparticles Resveratrol Saponin Silymarin... 

Fig. 1 Structure of different phytochemicals (a) curcumin, (b) EGCG, (c) resvaatrol, (d) silymarin, (e) saponin and (f) GSE...

Ruscus aculeatus growing mainly regions around the Mediterranean sea coast has been used as a laxative and diuretic agent and as a vasoconstrictor in the topical treatment of varices and haemorrhoids in many countries of the Mediterranean region from old times. Their extracts of Ruscus aculeatus are rich in phytosterols, steroidal saponins, flavonoids and miscellaneous compounds. Based on these facts, the purpose of this Chapter is to describe their phytochemicals and health functions. 

Their venoconstrictor effect and antiinflammatory effects of the phytochemicals in Ruscus aculeatus might be attributed to the steroidal saponins, mainly ruscogenin (2) with antisclerotic and hypotensive activities, and neoruscogenin (5). Actually, both ruscogenin (2) and neoruscogenin (5) have their venoconstrictor effect and antiinflammatory effects (Figure 2) [23, 24, 2],... 

Chapter 5 - Butcher s brooms (Ruscus aculeatus) of Southern Europe origin have been used in their treatments and improvements for circulatory diseases of the lombs, hermorroids and the inflammatory symptoms of anorectal mucosa in their folkrore medicines. Based on these folkrore treatments, Chapter 6 mainly consists of three elements such as Section 1 Introduction, Section 2 Facts of Incompetence Improvement by Ruscus aculeatus of improvements of venous smooth muscle by the extracts of Ruscus aculeatus, dimetic effects by the extracts of Ruscus aculeatus, and venotonic effects by the extracts of Ruscus aculeatus, and Section 3 Phytochemicals and Their Functionality of Ruscus aculeatus of phytosterols, steroidal saponins, flavonoids, fatty acid, and miscellaneous components. Therefore, Chapter 6 describes their phytochemicals in Ruscus aculeatus and their evidences of treatments based on in vivo, in vitro and wider epidemiological evidences. 

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