Steroidal Saponins from the Genus Smilax and Their Biological Activities

Abstract

The Smilax species, widely distributed in tropical region of the world and the warm areas of East Asia and North America, are extensively used as folk medicine to treat inflammatory disorders. Chemical investigation on Smilax species showed they are rich sources of steroidal saponins with diversified structure types, including spirostane, isospirostane, furostane, pregnane, and cholestane. This review mainly summarizes the steroidal saponins (1-104) reported from the genus Smilax between 1967 and 2016, and their biological activities. The relationship between structures of steroidal saponins and related biological activities were briefly discussed.

Keywords: Biological activities; Smilax; Steroidal saponins.

Fig. 1

Structures of a a spirostane backbone, b an isospirostane backbone, c a furostane backbone, d a pregnane backbone, e a cholestane backone, a glucopyranosyl moiety (Glcp), a galactopyranosyl moiety (Galp), a rhamnopyranosyl moiety (Rhap), a frutofuranosyl moiety (Furf) and an arabinopyranosyl moiety

Fig. 2

Structures of compounds 1–11

Fig. 3

Structures of compounds 12–47

Fig. 4

Structures of compounds 48–83

Fig. 5

Structures of compounds 84–104

Fig. 6

Sugar residues of S₁–S₁₆

Fig. 7

Sugar residues of S₁₇–S₃₁