Saponins antiviral activity

Examples of other antiviral compounds of marine origin also included two new saponins isolated from the holothurian Thyone aurea which showed interesting activity against HSV-1 [110], and fatty acids from the soft coral Nephthea spp. with antiviral activity against VZV [111]. 

L. Preliminary Studies of Antiviral Activity of Triterpenoid Saponins Relationships Between Their Chemical Structures and Antiviral Activity. Planta Medica. 1990, 56, 652-653. 

Licorice still has medicinal nses becanse it is an expectorant, protects the mucus of the stomach and probably has some antiviral activity as well. Sometimes it is simply a sweetener in medical syraps. Its taste and health benefit are caused by the same family of compounds called triterpenoid saponins, mostly glycyrrhizinic acid, in which two molecules of glucuronic acid are ahached to a triterpenoid base compound through glycosidic bonds. Glycyrrhizinic acid is mostly present in the plant... 

Keywords Phytochemicals Polysaccharides Flavonoids Organic acids Alkaloids Saponins Essential oils Stilbenes Antiviral activity assay... 

The antiviral activity of a triterpene saponin isolated from angallis arvensis, was studied in vitro against several vimses including HSV-1, adenovirus type 6, vaccinia, vesicular stomatitis and poliovirus (Amoros et al. 1987). The drug was found to inhibit the replication of HSV-1 and poliovirus type 2 as shown by inhibition of cytopathic effect and reduction of virus production. The action was not due to a virucidal effect but might involve inhibition of virus-host cell attachment. Single cycle experiments indicated that saponins interfered with both early and late events of herpes virus replication (Amoros et al. 1987). 

The pharmacologically active constituents of these Astragalus belong to two different kinds of chemical compounds, polysaccharides and saponins, and the most interesting pharmacological properties are hepatoprotective, immunostimulant and antiviral. 

A modification of the immune response could be responsible for the antiviral and anticancer activity of saponins. 

Nowadays saponins have been studied because different beneficial properties to health have been described. Saponins possess a broad variety of biological effects analgesic, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral, and cytotoxic activity, effect on the absorption of minerals and vitamins and on animal growth, hemolytic and immunosti-mulatory effects, increased permeability of the intestinal mucosa neuro-protective action, and reduction of fat absorption (Gu lii-Ustundag and Mazza, 2007). However, the biological properties of quinoa saponins require further study. 

Although the studies of antiviral properties of saponins did not exceed the experimental level, many in vitro and in vivo studies have been reported in several reviews [2, 5, 130-133]. The most relevant activities have been obtained in the last decade against viruses such as hepatitis A, B, C, (HAV, HBV, HCV) and some important enveloped viruses (HIV, HSV, VSV, CMV and influenza viruses). 

---