Anticancer agents: Saponin and tannin

Abstract

Herbs are ancient sources of flavoring aromatic compounds and medicines, not only for merely culinary application. The increasing interest in the powerful biological activities makes them interesting in terms of their phytochemical contents. Saponin and tannin are coined as effective phytochemical agents. Saponins have long been known to be plant- originated, but they can also be found in marine organisms. Saponnins, from a structural viewpoint, are composed of one or more hydrophilic glycoside moieties along with a lipophilic and derived aglycone and finally one or more sugar chains. Therefore, it is not a surprise that they exhibit pharmacological effects. Anticancer activity is one of these important properties. Saponins interfere with the replication of cellular DNA and they prevent the proliferation of cancer cells. Tannins, on the other hand, are of polyphenolic nature. The features distinguishing tannins from plant-based polyphenols of other types are basically the properties of the binding of the former to proteins, basic compounds, pigments, large-molecular compounds and metallic ions and also the display of anti-oxidant activities. In this review we reported the anticancer activity of different plants having a rich content of saponin and tannin.