Saponin production from Quillaja genus species. An insight into its applications and biology

Abstract

Quillaja genus (Quillajaceae family) is endemic to South America, where is represented by two species, Quillaja saponaria and Quillaja brasiliensis. One outstanding characteristic of these forest tree species is their production of saponins, a family of amphipathic glycosides, involved in the defensive response of plants against biotic and abiotic factors. Saponins are metabolites of economic importance due to their chemical and physical properties. Basic and applied research efforts performed during the last decades, mainly on Q. saponaria, have placed these compounds as an important raw material in industrial areas, such as food and beverage, cosmetics, vaccine production, biopesticides, among others. In this review, we summarize information on saponins from Quillaja species during the last years, analyzing current developments by application areas, as well as their chemical composition and properties. We also describe the general advances in revealing saponin biosynthesis pathways, related genes and Quillaja genomes, as well as the conservation status, domestication processes, and perspectives in the context of implementing genetic improvement programs.

The use of plant extracts to control tilapia reproduction: Current status and future perspectives

“…The soap bark tree belongs to the order Fabales and family Quillajaceae (Guerra & Sepulveda, 2020). This tree is native to China, Peru, and Chile (Angeles Jr., Gallego, Navarro, & Chien, 2017; Francis et al, 2002).…”

Chemical and biological characterization of vaccine adjuvant QS-21 produced via plant cell culture

“… 21 These intricate natural products consist of a hydrophobic triterpene core, an aliphatic sidechain, and complex, defined carbohydrate functional groups. In the quest for alternative manufacturing methods, semi-synthetic chemistry, biochemistry 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 and agricultural plant microculture or sapling microfarming 28 , 29 have been explored. A key breakthrough was recently made by identifying the crucial enzymatic pathways involved in the synthesis of QS-21-related immune modulatory saponins.…”

In Vivo Efficacy of Purified Quillaja Saponin Extracts in Protecting against Piscirickettsia salmonis Infections in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)

“…These biological effects lead to the induction of an innate and adaptive immune response, including cellular and humoral types [ 20 ]. High-grade quillaja extracts containing ≥90% w / w saponins (dry basis) can be employed as immunostimulant agents (vaccine adjuvants) in veterinary and human vaccine formulations [ 20 , 21 ], where they effectively modify the activities of antigen-presenting cells (macrophages and dendritic cells). It has been demonstrated that quillaja saponins, alone or incorporated into immune-stimulating complexes (ISCOMs), modulate immunity responses in different ways: by increasing antigen uptake in antigen-presenting cells (APC), by stimulating Th1 and Th2 immune responses to different antigens, and by inducing cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) [ 22 ].…”