Influence of environmental abiotic factors on the content of saponins in plants

Abstract

Saponins are a large group of secondary metabolites occurring in significant amounts in many plant species. However, the saponin content of plants is variable and it can be influenced by the surrounding environment. The local geoclimate, seasonal changes, external conditions such as light, temperature, humidity and soil fertility, as well as cultivation techniques, affect both the quantitative amount and qualitative composition of saponins. Such variation substantially impacts on the quality and properties of wild and cultivated plants exploited for pharmaceutical, nutritional and industrial applications. This review summarizes the available data on the effects of abiotic environmental factors on saponin level in plants, especially those of considerable economic importance, highlighting current problems such as the reduction in natural plant resources, over-exploitation and destruction of wild habitats, climate shifts as well as the consequences of the growing demand for plantderived medicinal and industrial products. The need for a theoretical basis for a reasonable harvest, attempts at the domestication of wild plant species and the development of new agricultural technologies allowing high production under optimized conditions are also discussed.

Influence of abiotic stress signals on secondary metabolites in plants

“…61 Lower soil temperatures caused an increase in levels of steroidal furostanol and spirostanol saponins. 64 Temperature variations has multiple effects on the metabolic regulation, permeability, rate of intracellular reactions in plant cell cultures. 61 Changing the culture temperature may change the physiology and metabolism of cultured cells and subsequently affect growth and secondary metabolite production.…”

“…Saponins occur in roots, leaves, stems, bulbs, flowers and fruit of Panax ginseng, and their content influence by environmental abiotic factors. 64 The accumulation of saponins in plant reproductive organs, play a role in chemical protection and the plant response to environmental factors. 126 American ginseng plants exposed to longer sunlight were found to have higher root ginsenoside contents than those exposed to shorter periods of direct sunlight.…”

<b>Effect of environmental and phenological factors on the antimicrobial activity of <i>Cochlospermum regium</i> (Schrank) Pilg. roots

“…Divergences may result from the environmental and phenological factors at play at the time of plant collection. Climate, seasons of the year, phenological stage, genetic load, temperature, altitude, cultivation conditions and humidity, among other factors, can significantly affect the quality and/or quantity of bioactive compounds (Szakiel, Pączkowski, & Henry, 2011;Pavarini, Pavarini, Niehues, & Lopes, 2012). In this context, this work aimed to investigate how seasonality, phenological stage, geographical location, plant cultivation substrate, and plant age influence the antimicrobial activity of Cochlospermum regium roots against the pathogenic microorganism Candida albicans.…”

The Environmental Fluctuations of some Bioactive Nutraceutical Compounds in Zilla spinosa Inhabiting Arid Habitats

“…A positive correlation between saponins concentrations and abiotic stresses was observed (De Costa et al, 2013). It was indicated that the increment in the synthesis of saponins in response to stresses, might be an indicator for their involvement in plant tolerance under sever stressful conditions (Lin et al, 2009;Szakiel et al, 2011;Mahmood et al, 2014).…”