Phytochemistry and bioactivity of triterpene saponins from Amaranthaceae family

The family Amaranthaceae comprises more than 175 genera and 2,000 species of herbs, shrubs, subshrubs and small trees. It is a widespread and cosmopolitan family that can be found from the tropics to cool temperate regions. Some of the Amaranthaceae plants have economic importance and are used as herbal medicines or vegetables in various parts of the globe. The phytochemical profile of Amaranthaceae plants comprises essential oils, betalains, phenolic compounds and terpenoids. This review focuses on distribution, structure and pharmacological properties of triterpene saponins present in Amaranthaceae plants. These include oleanane-, ursane- and lupane-type of compounds possessing a very broad array of structures. Different pattern of triterpene saponin occurrence was characterised in almost 30 species belonging to Amaranthaceae family, i.e. Achyranthes bidendata Blume , Achyranthes faureri Léveille. & Vahiot. , Amaranthus caudatus L. , Amaranthus cruentus L., Amaranthus hypochondriacus L., Alternanthera philoxeroides Griseb., Alternanthera repens L., Anabasis articulata Moq, Anabasis setifera Moq, Atriplex glauca L., Atriplex semibaccata R. Br., Bassia muricata L., Beta vulgaris var. vulgaris L., Gomphrena globosa Spreng., Celosia argentea L., Celosia cristata L., Chenopodium album L., Chenopodium foliosum L., Chenopodium quinoa Willd., Climacoptera obtusifolia L., Kochia scoparia L., Pfaffia glomerata Speng. , Pfaffia paniculata Mart., Salicornia bigelovii Torr., Salicornia europaea L., Salicornia herbacea L. The bioactivity of saponin mixtures or individual saponins in vitro and in vivo include cytotoxic, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, antiosteoporosis, antiviral, antifungal as well as anthelmintic actions. Herbal and edible Amaranthaceae plants can be considered as promising and highly available sources of biologically active triterpene saponins.