Adjuvant activities of saponins from traditional Chinese medicinal herbs

Selection of Adjuvants for Enhanced Vaccine Potency

“…A semi-synthetic saponin (GPI-0100) was found to enhance the immunogenicity of a single tandem fusion protein in mice [251] and enhance antibody titers against the glycolipid Globo H and the glycosylated mucin MUC2 with only occasional grade II local toxicity at a dose of 5000 µg in cancer patients [252]. Less haemolytic saponins were also found in Chinese herbs [253]. Some are effective, such as Achyranthes bidentata (herb) saponins [254], Glycyrrhiza uralensis (herb) saponins (GLS) [255], Bupleurum chinense (herb) saponins [256], and Panax ginseng (root) saponins [257].…”

Saponin in Poultry and Monogastric Animals: A Review

“…Saponins can stimulate secretion of cytokines and trigger innate immunity (Song and Hu, 2009), as well as enhance humoral and cellular immune responses (Palatnik et al, 2004). Significant immune-stimulation and protection to diseased are achieved by immunization of chickens with immune-stimulating complexes contained purified saponins (Berezin et al, 2010).…”

Medicinal Potentials and Toxicity Concerns of Bioactive Principles

“…Charantin (XV) isolated from Momordica charantia L. possesses an insulin-like activity with which it promotes insulin secretion, and thereby lowers hepatic glycogenesis [129]. Also, diverse saponins such as β-sitosterol (XVI) present in Azadirachta indica A., andrographolide (XVII), a diterpenoid lactone, obtained from Andrographis paniculata Nees and gymnemic acid IV (XVIII) isolated from Gymnema sylvestre R., are agents of glycemic control in animal models [130,131]. The roles of bioactive principles in bringing glycemic control to bear in both experimental animals and humans have been exhaustively described elsewhere [6,114] Adjuvant activities of saponins from traditional Chinese medicinal herbs such as Panax ginseng, Astragalus species, Panax notoginseng, Cochinchina momordica, Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Achyranthes bidentata have been previously described [132].…”