Various saponins, plant glycosides with favorable anti-tumorigenic
properties, have been used to inhibit tumor cell growth by cell cycle arrest and apoptosis
with IC50 values of up to 0.2 μM. We describe several groups of saponins (dioscins,
saikosaponins, julibrosides, soy saponins, ginseng saponins and avicins) currently
investigated for their use in tumor therapy. We focus on cellular and systemic
mechanisms of tumor cell growth inhibition both in vitro and in vivo, combinational
approaches with saponins and conventional tumor treatment strategies, and successful
syntheses of saponins. The increasing interest in saponins for tumor therapy is very
promising for the future development of sophisticated anti-cancer drugs.
Keywords: Cancer, cytotoxicity, glycoside, saponin, steroid, tumor therapy,
triterpenoid.
