Saponins as modulators of nuclear receptors

Abstract

As plant-derived natural products, saponins have been widely applied for the dietary modification of metabolic syndrome. However, the underlying mechanisms of their preventive and therapeutic effects are still largely unclear. Nuclear receptors have been identified as potential pharmaceutical targets for treating various types of metabolic disorders. With similar structure to endogenous hormones, several saponins may serve as selective ligands for nuclear receptors. Recently, a series of saponins are proved to exert their physiological activities through binding to nuclear receptors. This review summarizes the biological and pharmacological activities of typical saponins mediated by some of the most well described nuclear receptors, including the classical steroid hormone receptors (ER, GR, MR, and AR) and the adopted orphan receptors (PPAR, LXR, FXR, and PXR).

Keywords:

• Saponins
• nuclear receptors
• biological activity
• pharmacological action

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31871717 and 31601534), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFD0300200), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2018T110249 and 2017M621213), and the Science and Technology Development Project Foundation of Jilin Province (20180520102JH and 20180201062SF).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31871717 and 31601534), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFD0300200), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2018T110249 and 2017M621213), and the Science and Technology Development Project Foundation of Jilin Province (20180520102JH and 20180201062SF)