A comprehensive review on plant-derived bioactive saponins as promising antimicrobial agents: from bioavailability challenges, molecular mechanistic insights to therapeutic applications

Nosyba A Ibrahim¹, Deepika Rathore^{2

3}, Komal Janiyani^{2

3}, Anjali Gupta^{2

4}, Abdel Moneim Elhadi Sulieman⁵, Haroon Elrasheid Tahir⁶, Reyaz Hassan Mir⁷, Syeda Bushra Fatima⁸, Mohd Adnan⁵, Malvi Surti^{9

10}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health, College of Public Health & Health Informatics, University of Ha'il, P.O. Box 2440, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia.
² Research and Development Cell (RDC), Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul University, Waghodia, Vadodara, Gujarat, 391760, India.
³ Department of Microbiology, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul University, Waghodia, Vadodara, Gujarat, 391760, India.
⁴ Department of Biotechnology, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul University, Waghodia, Vadodara, Gujarat, 391760, India.
⁵ Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Ha'il, P.O. Box 2440, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China.
⁷ Pharmaceutical Chemistry Division, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
⁸ Department of Clinical Nutrition, College of Applied Medical Science, University of Ha'il, P.O. Box 2440, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia.
⁹ Research and Development Cell (RDC), Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul University, Waghodia, Vadodara, Gujarat, 391760, India. malvi.surti34113@paruluniversity.ac.in.
¹⁰ Department of Biotechnology, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul University, Waghodia, Vadodara, Gujarat, 391760, India. malvi.surti34113@paruluniversity.ac.in.

PMID: 40839006
DOI: 10.1007/s00210-025-04530-z

Review

A comprehensive review on plant-derived bioactive saponins as promising antimicrobial agents: from bioavailability challenges, molecular mechanistic insights to therapeutic applications

Nosyba A Ibrahim et al. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2025.

. 2025 Aug 21.

doi: 10.1007/s00210-025-04530-z. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health, College of Public Health & Health Informatics, University of Ha'il, P.O. Box 2440, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia.
² Research and Development Cell (RDC), Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul University, Waghodia, Vadodara, Gujarat, 391760, India.
³ Department of Microbiology, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul University, Waghodia, Vadodara, Gujarat, 391760, India.
⁴ Department of Biotechnology, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul University, Waghodia, Vadodara, Gujarat, 391760, India.
⁵ Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Ha'il, P.O. Box 2440, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China.
⁷ Pharmaceutical Chemistry Division, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
⁸ Department of Clinical Nutrition, College of Applied Medical Science, University of Ha'il, P.O. Box 2440, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia.
⁹ Research and Development Cell (RDC), Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul University, Waghodia, Vadodara, Gujarat, 391760, India. malvi.surti34113@paruluniversity.ac.in.
¹⁰ Department of Biotechnology, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul University, Waghodia, Vadodara, Gujarat, 391760, India. malvi.surti34113@paruluniversity.ac.in.

PMID: 40839006
DOI: 10.1007/s00210-025-04530-z

Abstract

A major worldwide health concern is antimicrobial resistance (AMR), driving an urgent need for novel therapeutic agents. Saponins, glycosylated phytochemicals with amphiphilic structures, have emerged as promising candidates owing to their wide-ranging antimicrobial effects. These substances exhibit potent antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and antifungal activity against pathogens like Candida and Trichophyton species. Furthermore, saponins demonstrate potential in combating viral diseases, attributed to their ability to disrupt lipid membranes and modulate host immune responses. Recent advances in saponin research highlight innovations in extraction techniques, formulation strategies, and combination therapies, enhancing their bioavailability and therapeutic potential. Computational studies have further elucidated their mechanisms of action, supporting the development of saponin-based drug delivery systems and synergistic applications with existing antimicrobials. With their structural diversity, bioactivity, and versatility in medical, agriculture, and biotechnology applications, saponins represent a critical natural resource for addressing the AMR crisis and advancing future antimicrobial therapies. Therefore, this review aims to comprehensively summarize recent findings on the antimicrobial properties of plant-derived saponins, clarify their mechanisms of action, bioavailability challenges, and highlight their therapeutic potential and future directions.

Keywords: Antibacterial; Antifungal; Antimicrobial resistance; Antiviral; Combination therapies; Phytochemicals; Saponins.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics approval: Not applicable. Consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent to publish: Not applicable. Clinical trial number: Not applicable.

References

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A comprehensive review on plant-derived bioactive saponins as promising antimicrobial agents: from bioavailability challenges, molecular mechanistic insights to therapeutic applications

Affiliations

A comprehensive review on plant-derived bioactive saponins as promising antimicrobial agents: from bioavailability challenges, molecular mechanistic insights to therapeutic applications

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

References

Publication types

Grants and funding

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources