Saponins are glycosides of triterpenes, steroids or steroidal alkaloids. They can be found in plants and marine organisms. Very diverse biological activities are ascribed to saponins and they play important roles in food, animal feedstuffs, and pharmaceutical properties. This volume provides a selection of recent work on saponins presented at a symposium in Pulawy, Poland, in 1999. Many different aspects are treated: analysis, separation, biological activities, relevant use in human and animal nutrition, and ecological significance. This book will be of use to researchers both in universities and industry.
This book is a timely incursion into the field and provides information about occurrence and distribution, structural types, isolation, analysis and structure determination of saponins. Biological and pharmacological activities are discussed, as are aspects of commerical and industrial use. Numerous examples are presented, providing a valuable source of data for the different classes of compound.
''A wealth of information...these two volumes will be immensely valuable to anyone having to deal with this difficult group of compounds.'' ---Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, from a review of Saponins Used in Traditional and Modern Medicine and Saponins Used in Food and Agriculture
''A wealth of information...these two volumes will be immensely valuable to anyone having to deal with this difficult group of compounds.'' ---Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, from a review of Saponins Used in Traditional and Modern Medicine and Saponins Used in Food and Agriculture ''A valuable contribution to the literature.'' ---The Quarterly Review of Biology, December 1997
Saponins are surfactive compounds that are widely distributed in nature, occurring primarily in the plant kingdom. Plants that produce saponins generally accumulate these metabolites as part of their development, which can be influenced by several environmental factors, such as nutrient and water availability, light irradiation and/or a combination of these factors. In this book, Chapter One discusses the occurrence in nature and biological activities of saponins. Chapter Two provides a review of ginsenoside Rg3 modulating lipid metabolism. Chapter Three demonstrates methods of saponins recovery after soil washing and attempts of their reuse. Chapter Four evaluates the feasibility of using saponin from soapnuts (Sapindus mukorrossi) for the removal of oil from a large area of oil contaminated soil in Kuwait, due to the destruction of oil wells during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Chapter Five focuses on the structural types and biological studies of saponins of I. asprella, and briefly discusses the characteristics of these chemical structures.
Isoprenoids are important in primary and secondary metabolism. They have implications in a myriad of physiological processes notably in plants, microorganisms and parasites, and biological activities at the cellular, organism, and ecosystem levels. The importance of isoprenoids in various areas of the scientific world has spurred intense research worldwide. Also their role in "nutraceuticals" has stimulated scientific curiosity. Literature on isoprenoids is widely scattered in journals with quite differing readerships and geographic distribution. A comprehensive book on isoprenoids does not exist. Isoprenoid Synthesis in Plants and Microorganisms: New Concepts and Experimental Approaches fills this gap by presenting the latest and the most applicable information on isoprenoids. The most recent TERPNET conference serves as the backdrop and provides much of the inspiration for the topics covered in the book. Additional topics of interest are covered as well, making Isoprenoid Synthesis in Plants and Microorganisms: New Concepts and Experimental Approaches the most comprehensive review of isoprenoid synthesis to date.
Recent Advances in Natural Products Analysis is a thorough guide to the latest analytical methods used for identifying and studying bioactive phytochemicals and other natural products. Chemical compounds, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, carotenoids and saponins are examined, highlighting the many techniques for studying their properties. Each chapter is devoted to a compound category, beginning with the underlying chemical properties of the main components followed by techniques of extraction, purification and fractionation, and then techniques of identification and quantification. Biological activities, possible interactions, levels found in plants, the effects of processing, and current and potential industrial applications are also included. Focuses on the latest analytical techniques used for studying phytochemical and other biological compounds Authored and edited by the top worldwide experts in their field Discusses the current and potential applications and predicts future trends of each compound group
The book provides a single volume covering detailed descriptions about various delivery systems, their principles and how these are put in use for the treatment of multiple diseases. It is divided into four sections where the first section deals with the introduction and importance of novel drug delivery system. The second section deals with the most advanced drug delivery systems like microbubbles, dendrimers, lipid-based nanoparticles, nanofibers, microemulsions etc., describing the major principles and techniques of the preparations of the drug delivery systems. The third section elaborates on the treatments of diverse diseases like cancer, topical diseases, tuberculosis etc. The fourth and final section provides a brief informative description about the regulatory aspects of novel drug delivery system that is followed in various countries.
Part of a review series that looks at trends in modern biology. This book covers aspects of bioprocessing and biotransformation, where knowledge, methods and expertise are required from chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, genetics, chemical engineering and computer science.
The fact that, of the approximately 600,000 plant species existing on the earth, only some 5 % have been specifically investigated chemically or pharmacologi cally, is a challenge to chemists spezializing in na tural substances and to pharmacologists. In view of the limited number of research capacities and the ever diminishing financial means, this challenge can only be met if, together with an improvement and refinement of methods of analysis, medicinal plant research is carried out on a broader interdisciplinary basis, with comparable, scientifically recognized screening methods, and if it is better coordinated, with greater use of modern documentation means. It is thus necessary in the future to concentrate specifically on projects leading to the development of new medicinal prepara tions. The plenary lectures hold in the present symposium of the 1st International Congress for Research on Medi cinal Plants reflect these efforts and tendencies. At the same time they provide a survey of some of the fields of medicinal plant research which are at present most actual and most intensively researched. They range from plant screening, isolation and structure eluci dation of new principles, to the therapeutical opti mization of a natural product. The lectures given at this congress show clearly the necessity, in addition to national phytochemical so cieties, for a central international organisation, in which all active medicinal plant researchers in the world are included. Their aim should be to provide the impulse for more optimal, rational research, aimed at the solution of specific projects.
