Biological activities and chemistry of saponins from Chenopodium quinoa Willd.

Chenopodium quinoa Willd. is a valuable food source which has gained importance in many countries of the world. The plant contains various bitter-tasting saponins which present an important antinutritional factor. Various triterpene saponins have been reported in C quinoa including both monodesmosidic and bidesmosidic triterpene saponins of oleanolic acid, hederagenin, phytolaccagenic acid, and serjanic acid as the major aglycones and other aglycones as 3 beta-hydroxy-23-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid, 3 beta-hydroxy-27-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid, and 3 beta, 23 alpha, 30 beta-trihydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid. A tridesmosidic saponin of hederagenin has also been reported. Here we review the occurrence, analysis, chemical structures, and biological activity of triterpene saponins of C quinoa. In particular, the mode of action of the mono- and bidesmosidic triterpene saponins and aglycones are discussed.