Saponins: Research Progress and Their Potential Role in the Post-COVID-19 Pandemic Era

Overview

Journal Pharmaceutics

Publisher MDPI

Date 2023 Feb 25

PMID 36839670

Authors

Daniel Mieres-Castro

Freddy Mora-Poblete

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In the post-COVID-19 pandemic era, the new global situation and the limited therapeutic management of the disease make it necessary to take urgent measures in more effective therapies and drug development in order to counteract the negative global impacts caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its new infectious variants. In this context, plant-derived saponins-glycoside-type compounds constituted from a triterpene or steroidal aglycone and one or more sugar residues-may offer fewer side effects and promising beneficial pharmacological activities. This can then be used for the development of potential therapeutic agents against COVID-19, either as a therapy or as a complement to conventional pharmacological strategies for the treatment of the disease and its prevention. The main objective of this review was to examine the primary and current evidence in regard to the therapeutic potential of plant-derived saponins against the COVID-19 disease. Further, the aim was to also focus on those studies that highlight the potential use of saponins as a treatment against SARS-CoV-2. Saponins are antiviral agents that inhibit different pharmacological targets of the virus, as well as exhibit anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic activity in relieving symptoms and clinical complications related to the disease. In addition, saponins also possess immunostimulatory effects, which improve the efficacy and safety of vaccines for prolonging immunogenicity against SARS-CoV-2 and its infectious variants.

Citing Articles

Remedying SARS-CoV-2 through nature: a review highlighting the potentiality of herbs, trees, mushrooms, and endophytic microorganisms in controlling Coronavirus.

Patni B, Bhattacharyya M, Pokhriyal A, Pandey D Planta. 2025; 261(4):89.

PMID: 40089556 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-025-04647-8.

New Polyhydroxysteroids Derivatives from Starfish Asterias amurensis Induce Embryotoxicity in Marine Medaka.

Li X, Lu Z, Wang D, Yan Z, Yin X, Xu Y J Chem Ecol. 2025; 51(2):37.

PMID: 40072719 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-025-01594-2.

Phytochemical synergies in BK002: advanced molecular docking insights for targeted prostate cancer therapy.

Park M, Choi J, Maharub Hossain Fahim M, Asevedo E, Nurkolis F, Ribeiro R Front Pharmacol. 2025; 16:1504618.

PMID: 40034825 PMC: 11872924. DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1504618.

Development of semisynthetic saponin immunostimulants.

Bai D, Kim H, Wang P Med Chem Res. 2024; 33(8):1292-1306.

PMID: 39132259 PMC: 11315725. DOI: 10.1007/s00044-024-03227-x.

Advancements and challenges in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic research on the traditional Chinese medicine saponins: a comprehensive review.

Ma Y, Zhao Y, Luo M, Jiang Q, Liu S, Jia Q Front Pharmacol. 2024; 15:1393409.

PMID: 38774213 PMC: 11106373. DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1393409.

References

Sharma R, Palanisamy A, Dhama K, Mal G, Singh B, Singh K . Exploring the possible use of saponin adjuvants in COVID-19 vaccine. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2020; 16(12):2944-2953. PMC: 7738204. DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2020.1833579. View

Wu Z, Wang J . Dioscin attenuates Bleomycin-Induced acute lung injury via inhibiting the inflammatory response in mice. Exp Lung Res. 2019; 45(8):236-244. DOI: 10.1080/01902148.2019.1652370. View

Zhou Y, Farooqi A, Xu B . Comprehensive review on signaling pathways of dietary saponins in cancer cells suppression. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2021; 63(20):4325-4350. DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2021.2000933. View

Wang P . Natural and Synthetic Saponins as Vaccine Adjuvants. Vaccines (Basel). 2021; 9(3). PMC: 8001307. DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9030222. View

Falade V, Adelusi T, Adedotun I, Abdul-Hammed M, Lawal T, Agboluaje S . In silico investigation of saponins and tannins as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M). In Silico Pharmacol. 2021; 9(1):9. PMC: 7786323. DOI: 10.1007/s40203-020-00071-w. View

Zhu D, Tuo W . QS-21: A Potent Vaccine Adjuvant. Nat Prod Chem Res. 2016; 3(4). PMC: 4874334. DOI: 10.4172/2329-6836.1000e113. View

Yuan B, Yang R, Ma Y, Zhou S, Zhang X, Liu Y . A systematic review of the active saikosaponins and extracts isolated from Radix Bupleuri and their applications. Pharm Biol. 2016; 55(1):620-635. PMC: 6130612. DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2016.1262433. View

Wang C, Guo X, Liu L, Huang Y, Meng L, Song L . Prevention of Deep Vein Thrombosis by Panax Notoginseng Saponins Combined with Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin in Surgical Patients. Chin J Integr Med. 2022; 28(9):771-778. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-022-2894-3. View

Jiang H, Yang L, Hou A, Zhang J, Wang S, Man W . Botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, analytical methods, processing, pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of Bupleuri Radix: A systematic review. Biomed Pharmacother. 2020; 131:110679. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110679. View

10.

Xu H, Chen G, Wu Y, Xie L, Tan Z, Liu B . Ginsenoside Ro, an oleanolic saponin of , exerts anti-inflammatory effect by direct inhibiting toll like receptor 4 signaling pathway. J Ginseng Res. 2022; 46(1):156-166. PMC: 8753525. DOI: 10.1016/j.jgr.2021.05.011. View

11.

Chen C, Li S, Wang S, Liang S . Investigation into the anti-thrombosis effect and contents of total saponins and flavonoids in the bioactive fraction of Naodesheng prescription. J Ethnopharmacol. 2012; 144(1):208-12. DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2012.09.007. View

12.

Zhang X, Zhang Z, Xia N, Zhao Q . Carbohydrate-containing nanoparticles as vaccine adjuvants. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2021; 20(7):797-810. DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2021.1939688. View

13.

Wang Q, Yang L, Peng Y, Gao M, Yang M, Xing W . Ginsenoside Rg1 Regulates SIRT1 to Ameliorate Sepsis-Induced Lung Inflammation and Injury via Inhibiting Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Inflammation. Mediators Inflamm. 2019; 2019:6453296. PMC: 6409002. DOI: 10.1155/2019/6453296. View

14.

Sinha S, Shakya A, Prasad S, Singh S, Gurav N, Prasad R . An evaluation of different Saikosaponins for their potency against SARS-CoV-2 using NSP15 and fusion spike glycoprotein as targets. J Biomol Struct Dyn. 2020; 39(9):3244-3255. PMC: 7232888. DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1762741. View

15.

Shi Z, Zeng J, Wong A . Chemical Structures and Pharmacological Profiles of Ginseng Saponins. Molecules. 2019; 24(13). PMC: 6651355. DOI: 10.3390/molecules24132443. View

16.

Lacaille-Dubois M . Updated insights into the mechanism of action and clinical profile of the immunoadjuvant QS-21: A review. Phytomedicine. 2019; 60:152905. PMC: 7127804. DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2019.152905. View

17.

Fogarty H, Townsend L, Ni Cheallaigh C, Bergin C, Martin-Loeches I, Browne P . COVID19 coagulopathy in Caucasian patients. Br J Haematol. 2020; 189(6):1044-1049. PMC: 7264579. DOI: 10.1111/bjh.16749. View

18.

Marrelli M, Conforti F, Araniti F, Statti G . Effects of Saponins on Lipid Metabolism: A Review of Potential Health Benefits in the Treatment of Obesity. Molecules. 2016; 21(10). PMC: 6273086. DOI: 10.3390/molecules21101404. View

19.

Chen T, Wang R, Jiang W, Wang H, Xu A, Lu G . Protective Effect of Astragaloside IV Against Paraquat-Induced Lung Injury in Mice by Suppressing Rho Signaling. Inflammation. 2015; 39(1):483-492. DOI: 10.1007/s10753-015-0272-4. View

20.

Liberati A, Altman D, Tetzlaff J, Mulrow C, Gotzsche P, Ioannidis J . The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate healthcare interventions: explanation and elaboration. BMJ. 2009; 339:b2700. PMC: 2714672. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.b2700. View