Herbal Pharmacology Saponins, Phytosterols Class Abstract Saponins Mills&Bone p.44-47, p.67, Ginseng monograph (p.635) Rajput, Zahid Iqbal, et al. "Adjuvant effects of saponins on animal immune responses." Journal of Zhejiang University Science B 8.3 (2007): 153-161. Rao, A. V., and M. K. Sung. "Saponins as anticarcinogens." The Journal of nutrition 125.3 Suppl (1995): 717S-724S. Francis, George, et al. "The biological action of saponins in animal systems: a review." British journal of nutrition 88.06 (2002): 587-605. glycyrrhizin dioscin KEY POINTS: Glycosides, steroidal or triterpenoid. Soap-like with sugar moiety being hydrophilic. Act both whole and as aglycones. Interact with hormone (corticosteroid / sex) systems. Increase hepatic cholesterol synthesis and excretion. Interact with immune system. Often toxic by injection Extraction: Water is often excellent. Forms foam. Areas of action: Gut, lymphoid tissue, liver, pituitary, kidney/adrenals. Pharmacokinetics: Micelle formation, various degrees of de-glycosylation in small intestine, though some absorbed whole. Rapid plasma entry (90 min), clearances often longer (8-12h half-lives), perhaps due to enterohepatic recycling. Excreted in bile, some kidney. Representative species: Glycyrrhiza, Panax, Actaea, Saponaria Phytosterols: Mills&Bone Saw Palmetto monograph, pp. 805-810 Demonty, Isabelle, et al. "Continuous dose-response relationship of the LDL-cholesterol– lowering effect of phytosterol intake." The Journal of nutrition 139.2 (2009): 271-284. Phillips, Katherine M., David M. Ruggio, and Mehdi Ashraf-Khorassani. "Phytosterol composition of nuts and seeds commonly consumed in the United States." Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 53.24 (2005): 9436-9445. Ostlund, Richard E., Susan B. Racette, and William F. Stenson. "Inhibition of cholesterol absorption by phytosterol-replete wheat germ compared with phytosterol-depleted wheat germ." The American journal of clinical nutrition 77.6 (2003): 1385-1389. Mannarino, E., et al. "Effects of a phytosterol-enriched dairy product on lipids, sterols and 8- isoprostane in hypercholesterolemic patients: a multicenter Italian study." Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases 19.2 (2009): 84-90. beta-sitosterol KEY POINTS: May compete with cholesterol, affect plasma cholesterol and lipids (favorably). Hormonal effects are possible – animal endocrine disruptors. Notable prostatic anti-inflammatory effect. Extraction: eaten as food, lipid or high ethanol (70%+) extraction Areas of action: GI tract, liver, hormone receptor sites, prostaglandin synthesis site(s) prostate esp. Pharmacokinetics: Mills & Bone Saw Palmetto (p.810). Good oral bioavailability, esp. with fats. Peak plasma levels 90 min, half-life short (2h). Frequent (TID) dosing Representative species: Sereona, Urtica, Glycine .