Saponins can perturb biologic membranes and reduce the surface tension of aqueous solutions: A correlation?

Comprehensive Review of Cyclamen: Development, Bioactive Properties, and Therapeutic Applications

Plants are being researched as potential sources of novel drugs, which has led to a recent acceleration in the discovery of new bioactive compounds. Research on tissue culture technology for the synthesis and processing of plant compounds has skyrocketed, surpassing all expectations. These plants can be bought either raw or as extracts, where some of the chemicals are extracted by mashing the plant in water, alcohol, or another solvent. The use of herbal medicine may open new chances for reducing the onset of infections and treating different diseases including cancer. A perennial plant that blooms in the winter, Cyclamen, is one of the most widely used potted flowers in many nations. Alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, sterols, and glycosides are the main active components of Cyclamen. Analgesic, cytotoxic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties have all been demonstrated as potential effects of various extracts of Cyclamen tubers. However, the use of this medicinal plant in official medicine will require further research in the areas of pharmacology. Furthermore, it is necessary to create standard operating procedures for a crude herbal medication. In this regard, this review aims to highlight the key characteristics of the Cyclamen plant, such as its various parts, species, stages of development, and geographic range; pinpoint its intriguing bioactivities, its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and its anti-cancerous effects; and ascertain its potential medicinal uses and the main future perspectives.

Cell Membrane Perforation: Patterns, Mechanisms and Functions

Cell membrane is crucial for the cellular activities, and any disruption to it may affect the cells. It is demonstrated that cell membrane perforation is associated with some biological processes like programmed cell death (PCD) and infection of pathogens. Specific developments make it a promising technique to perforate the cell membrane controllably and precisely. The pores on the cell membrane provide direct pathways for the entry and exit of substances, and can also cause cell death, which means reasonable utilization of cell membrane perforation is able to assist intracellular delivery, eliminate diseased or cancerous cells, and bring about other benefits. This review classifies the patterns of cell membrane perforation based on the mechanisms into 1) physical patterns, 2) biological patterns, and 3) chemical patterns, introduces the characterization methods and then summarizes the functions according to the characteristics of reversible and irreversible pores, with the aim of providing a comprehensive summary of the knowledge related to cell membrane perforation and enlightening broad applications in biomedical science.

Emerging strategies for combating Fusobacterium nucleatum in colorectal cancer treatment: Systematic review, improvements and future challenges

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is generally characterized by a high prevalence of Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum), a spindle-shaped, Gram-negative anaerobe pathogen derived from the oral cavity. This tumor-resident microorganism has been closely correlated with the occurrence, progression, chemoresistance and immunosuppressive microenvironment of CRC. Furthermore, F. nucleatum can specifically colonize CRC tissues through adhesion on its surface, forming biofilms that are highly resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Accordingly, it is crucial to develop efficacious non-antibiotic approaches to eradicate F. nucleatum and its biofilms for CRC treatment. In recent years, various antimicrobial strategies, such as natural extracts, inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals, polymers, inorganic-organic hybrid materials, bacteriophages, probiotics, and vaccines, have been proposed to combat F. nucleatum and F. nucleatum biofilms. This review summarizes the latest advancements in anti-F. nucleatum research, elucidates the antimicrobial mechanisms employed by these systems, and discusses the benefits and drawbacks of each antimicrobial technology. Additionally, this review also provides an outlook on the antimicrobial specificity, potential clinical implications, challenges, and future improvements of these antimicrobial strategies in the treatment of CRC.

An overview of tea saponin as a surfactant in food applications

The residue of Camellia seeds after oil extraction contains many bioactive ingredients, including tea saponin. Tea saponin has many pharmacological effects and is an excellent nonionic surfactant. The development of natural surfactants has become a hot topic in food research. This review gathers the applications of tea saponin as a surfactant in food. It focuses on the application of tea saponin in emulsions, delivery systems, extraction and fermentation, as well as the challenges and development prospects in food applications. Tea saponin shows great potential as a surfactant in food applications, which can replace some synthetic surfactants. The full utilization of tea saponin improves the comprehensive utilization value of Camellia seed residue, contributes to the sustainable development of Camellia industry and avoids resource waste.

Traditional Chinese medicine: saponins, critical micellar concentrations and partition coefficients

INTRODUCTION

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) revolves around complex mixtures bound to specific roles within the formulation, among which saponin-containing plants with alleged properties of harmonising or detoxifying other compounds present in the preparations.

OBJECTIVE

This article deals with the study of these interactions with, as a model, the interaction between saponins and selected active principles.

METHODS

The measurement of the partition coefficient between water and octanol (logP) was used as an indicator and determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) for these active principles in the presence of saponins. For each compound, a graph was constructed showing the evolution of logP with increasing concentrations of saponins.

RESULTS

Four distinct patterns of interactions were distinguished. Pattern A showed a constant decrease of logP, pattern B showed a decrease followed by a plateau, in pattern C the logP did not vary until the critical micellar concentration (CMC) and decreased afterwards, and pattern D exhibited an increase of logP. These properties were linked to the ability of saponins to form micelles in water once the CMC is reached. The interaction of aconitine and saponins followed pattern D, thus explaining the detoxification of herbal preparations using Aconitum with licorice. The licorice facilitated the extraction of the notoriously water-insoluble artemisinin from Artemisia annua.

CONCLUSION

This investigation confirms that the physical properties of micelle forming saponins are intimately linked to a modification of behaviour of the other molecules in solution, as seen with the alteration of logP and the four types of interactions presented.

Synthesis of immunostimulatory saponins: A sweet challenge for carbohydrate chemists

Saponins are a large family of natural glycosides showing a wide range of biological activities. Current research efforts on saponins as vaccine adjuvants have been mainly focused on the development of synthetic analogs. By mimicking the immunomodulatory saponins from Quillaja saponaria (QS), less complex and readily accessible analogs have been synthesized to improve the industrial applicability and efficacy of saponins as vaccine adjuvants. Through the exploration of several structural modifications on the skeleton of QS saponins, including changes in the sugar and aglycone compositions as well as in the nature and configuration of the glycosidic bonds, structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies developed by Pr. Gin in the early 2010s were taken as a starting point for the development of a new generation of immunomodulatory candidates. In this review, the recent synthetic strategies and SAR studies of mono- and bidesmosidic QS saponins are discussed. Original concepts of vaccination including self-adjuvanticity and the development of saponin-based glycoconjugates are described. The synthesis and semi-synthesis of saponin alternatives to QS, such as Momordica saponin and onjisaponin derivatives, are also discussed in this review.

Using foam fractionation to estimate PFAS air-water interface adsorption behaviour at ng/L and µg/L concentrations

PFAS are biologically recalcitrant compounds that are persistent in the environment and have subsequently contaminated groundwater, landfill leachate and surface water. Due to their persistence and toxicity, there are environmental concentration limits imposed on some PFAS compounds that extend down to a few nanograms per litre and even proposals for reducing these to picogram per litre levels. Since PFAS concentrates at water-air interfaces as a result of their amphiphilic nature, this characteristic is important for the successful modelling and prediction of transport behaviour of PFAS through various systems. Here we present a procedure for using a foam fractionation method to experimentally determine the PFAS adsorption behaviour at ng/L and µg/L concentrations in the presence of salts. The equilibrium air-water adsorption coefficients for PFHxS and PFOA at different salinities and concentrations are experimentally shown to be constant across the range of PFAS concentrations investigated (approx. 0.1-100 µg/L). The adsorption isotherms may consequently be modelled by Henry or Langmuir style equations at these low concentrations.

Interactions between DMPC Model Membranes, the Drug Naproxen, and the Saponin β-Aescin

In this study, the interplay among the phospholipid 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) as a model membrane, the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug naproxen, and the saponin β-aescin are investigated. The naproxen amount was fixed to 10 mol%, and the saponin amount varies from 0.0 to 1.0 mol%. Both substances are common ingredients in pharmaceutics; therefore, it is important to obtain deeper knowledge of their impact on lipid membranes. The size and properties of the DMPC model membrane upon naproxen and aescin addition were characterized with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS, WAXS), and photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) in a temperature-dependent study. The interaction of all substances was dependent on the lipid phase state, which itself depends on the lipid's main phase transition temperature Tm. The incorporation of naproxen and aescin distorted the lipid membrane structure and lowers Tm. Below Tm, the DMPC-naproxen-aescin mixtures showed a vesicle structure, and the insertion of naproxen and aescin influenced neither the lipid chain-chain correlation distance nor the membrane thickness. Above Tm, the insertion of both molecules instead induced the formation of correlated bilayers and a decrease in the chain-chain correlation distance. The presented data clearly confirm the interaction of naproxen and aescin with DMPC model membranes. Moreover, the incorporation of both additives into the model membranes is evidenced.

Cytostatic effects of structurally different ginsenosides on yeast cells with altered sterol biosynthesis and transport

Triterpene glycosides are a diverse group of plant secondary metabolites, consisting of a sterol-like aglycon and one or several sugar groups. A number of triterpene glycosides show membranolytic activity, and, therefore, are considered to be promising antimicrobial drugs. However, the interrelation between their structure, biological activities, and target membrane lipid composition remains elusive. Here we studied the antifungal effects of four Panax triterpene glycosides (ginsenosides) with sugar moieties at the C-3 (ginsenosides Rg3, Rh2), C-20 (compound K), and both (ginsenoside F2) positions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants with altered sterol plasma membrane composition. We observed reduced cytostatic activity of the Rg3 and compound K in the UPC2-1 strain with high membrane sterol content. Moreover, LAM gene deletion reduced yeast resistance to Rg3 and digitonin, another saponin with glycosylated aglycon in the C-3 position. LAM genes encode plasma membrane-anchored StARkin superfamily-member sterol transporters. We also showed that the deletion of the ERG6 gene that inhibits ergosterol biosynthesis at the stage of zymosterol increased the cytostatic effects of Rg3 and Rh2, but not the other two tested ginsenosides. At the same time, in silico simulation revealed that the substitution of ergosterol with zymosterol in the membrane changes the spatial orientation of Rg3 and Rh2 in the membranes. These results imply that the plasma membrane sterol composition defines its interaction with triterpene glycoside depending on their glycoside group position. Our results also suggest that the biological role of membrane-anchored StARkin family protein is to protect eukaryotic cells from triterpenes glycosylated at the C-3 position.

Use of Saponinosomes from Ziziphus spina-christi as Anticancer Drug Carriers

Saponins are plant glycosides with different structures and biological activities, such as anticancer effects. Ziziphus spina-christi is a plant rich in saponin, and this compound is used to treat malignant melanoma in the present study. Nanophytosomes can be used as an advantageous nanodrug delivery system for plant extracts. The aim of this work is to use the saponin-rich fraction (SRF) from Z. spina-christi and prepare SRF-loaded nanophytosomes (saponinosomes) and observe the in vitro and in vivo effects of these carriers. First, the SRF was obtained from Z. spina-christi by a solvent-solvent fractionation method. Then, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses were performed to confirm the presence of saponins in the extracted material. Subsequently, the saponinosomes were prepared by the solvent injection method (ether injection method) using a 1:1:1 ratio of lecithin/cholesterol/SRF in the mixture. Characterization of the prepared saponinosomes was performed by FTIR, dynamic light scattering (DLS), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analyses. In addition, a UV-vis spectrophotometer was used to determine the entrapment efficiency (EE) and in vitro release of the SRF. Finally, cell cytotoxicity of the different formulations was evaluated using a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay on both mouse melanoma cells (B16F10) and fibroblasts (L929). Using DLS, AFM, and FE-SEM analyses, the particle size was determined to be 58 ± 6 nm with a zeta potential of -32 ± 2 mV. The calculated EE was 85 ± 3%. The results of the in vitro release profile showed that 68.2% of the SRF was released from the saponinosome after 48 h. The results of the MTT assay showed that the SRF and saponinosomes have high toxicity on B16F10 melanoma cells, but saponinosomes showed a significant decrease in cytotoxicity on L929 fibroblast cells compared with that of the SRF. Our results indicate that the SRF from Z. spina-christi has anticancer activity, and the saponinosomes prepared in this work can control tumor growth, improve therapeutic efficacy, and reduce the side effects of saponins.

Enhanced Removal of Hydrophobic Short-Chain n-Alkanes from Gas Streams in Biotrickling Filters in Presence of Surfactant

Emissions of n-alkanes are facing increasingly stringent management challenges. Biotrickling filtration in the presence of surfactants is a competitive alternative for the enhanced removal of n-alkanes. Herein, sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) was added into the liquid phase feeding a biotrickling filter (BTF) to enhance the removal of various short-chain n-alkanes from n-hexane (C6) to methane (C1). The removal performance of C6-C1 and microbial response mechanisms were explored. The results showed that the removal efficiency (RE) of n-alkanes decreased from 77 ± 1.3 to 35 ± 5.6% as the carbon chain number of n-alkanes decreased from C6 to C1, under the conditions of an n-alkane inlet load of 58 ± 3.0 g/m³·h and EBCT of 30 s. The removal performance of n-alkanes was enhanced significantly by the introduction of 15 mg/L SDBS, as the RE of C6 reached 99 ± 0.7% and the RE of C1 reached 74 ± 3.3%. The strengthening mechanisms were that the apparent Henry's law coefficient of n-alkanes decreased by 11 ± 1.4-30 ± 0.3%, and the cell surface hydrophobicity of microorganisms improved from 71 ± 5.6 to 87 ± 4.0% with the existence of SDBS. Moreover, the presence of SDBS promoted the succession and activity of the microbial community. The activities of alkane hydroxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase were 5.8 and 5.9 times higher than those without SDBS, and the concentration of the cytochrome P450 gene was improved 2.2 times. Therefore, the addition of SDBS is an effective strategy that makes BTF suitable for the removal of various n-alkanes from waste gas streams.

Linking intermolecular interactions and rheological behaviour in capillary suspensions

HYPOTHESIS

Capillary suspensions feature networks of particles connected by liquid bridges, which are obtained by adding a small amount of a second immiscible liquid to a suspension. It is possible to link the network formation as well as the rheological behaviour of capillary suspensions to the intermolecular interactions of their constituents.

EXPERIMENTS AND SIMULATIONS

Through a combination of experimental and numerical methods, we present a novel approach, based on Hansen solubility parameters computed from Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations, to rationalize and predict the rheological behaviour of capillary suspensions. We investigated the formation of capillary suspensions for various combinations of bulk and secondary liquids mixed with hydrophilic silica particles. The predictions were confirmed experimentally by rheological analysis, interfacial tension measurements and microscopy (CLSM) imaging.

FINDINGS

Numerical and experimental results show that the Hansen solubility parameters theory allows to predict the formation of capillary suspensions, whose strength exponentially decays with decreasing intermolecular interactions between the secondary liquids and the dispersed particles. High immiscibility between the bulk and secondary liquid strengthens the gel up to a critical immiscibility point, above which the strength of the gel remains mostly affected by the affinity between the secondary liquids and the dispersed particles. Furthermore, we find that hydrogen-bonding and polar interactions control the formation of capillary suspensions. This simple approach can guide the selection of adequate solvents and immiscible secondary liquids, allowing an easy formulation of new particulate-based gels.

Plant-Derived Saponins: A Review of Their Surfactant Properties and Applications

In response to increasing natural surfactant demand and environmental concerns, natural plant-based surfactants have been replacing synthetic ones. Saponins belong to a class of plant metabolites with surfactant properties that are widely distributed in nature. They are eco-friendly because of their natural origin and biodegradable. To date, many plant-based saponins have been investigated for their surface activity. An overview of saponins with a particular focus on their surface-active properties is presented in this article. For this purpose, works published in the past few decades, which report better surfactant relevant properties of saponins than synthetic ones, were extensively studied. The investigations on the potential surfactant application of saponins are also documented. Moreover, some biological activities of saponins such as antimicrobial activity, antidiabetic activity, adjuvant potentials, anticancer activity, and others are reported. Plants rich in saponins are widely distributed in nature, offering great potential for the replacement of toxic synthetic surfactants in a variety of modern commercial products and these saponins exhibit excellent surface and biological activities. New opportunities and challenges associated with the development of saponin-based commercial formulations in the future are also discussed in detail.

Effectiveness of oolong tea and simethicone solution for lens cleansing during colonoscopy: A double-blinded randomized study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

water is an imperfect agent for lens cleansing during endoscopy due to its incompetence to clean hydrophobic dirt, whereas amphiphilic surfactants have the potential to overcome the limitation of water. The trial was aimed to evaluate the cleansing effectiveness of 2 typical surfactants (simethicone solution and oolong tea) for colonoscopic lens.

METHODS

Oolong tea (O-), low concentration simethicone solution (S1-), high concentration simethicone solution (S2-) and distilled water (D-) were used as washing solutions for colonoscopic lens. Study I: The tip of the colonoscope was immersed in lard oil in order to simulate the blur, and photographs were taken toward a standard colonoscopy image in-vitro pre- and post- each cleansing procedure. The blurred areas of each image were quantified and compared. Study II: 395 consecutive patients who were due to colonoscopy examination were enrolled and randomized into O-, S2-, D-group. The volume of washing solution used and cleansing level during the examination procedure, adenoma and polyp detected per colonoscopy, insertion time and withdraw time were analyzed.

RESULTS

Study I: There were no differences in 4 groups for the blurred areas on images before lens cleansing. The blurred areas after lens cleansing were significantly smaller in 3 groups (O- 8.47 ± 20.91 vs S1- 13.06 ± 10.71 vs S2- 6.76 ± 8.49 vs D- 38.24 ± 29.69, P < .05) than water. The decline range of blurred areas after lens cleansing in oolong tea, low concentration simethicone solution, high concentration simethicone solution groups were significantly higher than that in distilled water group (O- 87.35 ± 20.81 vs S1- 78.12 ± 19.24 vs S2- 89.57 ± 8.50 vs D- 53.39 ± 28.45, P < .05). Study II: The volume of washing solution used in S2-group was significantly smaller than that in O-group and D-group. The cleansing level of the colonoscopic lens of O-group was significantly superior than that of S2-group and D-group.

CONCLUSIONS

The in-vitro test showed oolong tea and simethicone solution can effectively cleans the colonoscopic lens. The clinical trial demonstrated that oolong tea instead of water is effective to provide better visualization during colonoscopy.Registration: Chictr.org.cn No: ChiCTR1900025606.

Pulchinenosides: Correlation of surface activity-cytotoxicity and hepatocyte apoptosis mechanism study

Saponin is an active component of many phytomedicine, which has extensive pharmacology effects. Meanwhile, it is reported that cytotoxicity, especially hemolysis and hepatotoxicity, in pentacyclic triterpenoid saponin (PTS) hindered their further development and application. Surface activity, a unique physical property of saponins, is believed to be related to membrane toxicity. However, the correlation between the surface activity and cytotoxicity of saponins is still unexplained. In this paper, our aim was to explore the relationship between surface activity-cytotoxicity of pulchinenosides and the hepatotoxicity mechanism of PTS in vitro. The surface activity of different saponins was investigated by contact angle, surface free energy (SFE), and oil/water partition coefficient (log Papp). In the cytotoxicity study, the hemolysis and hepatotoxicity activity of different saponins was compared by HD₅₀ of erythrocyte and MTT, flow cytometry and LDH assay in LO2 cells respectively. And in the hepatotoxicity mechanism study, western blot was used for observing the expression of proteins related to apoptosis and exploring the liver injury mechanism of PTS. The results suggested that the influences of surface activity on hepatocytes and erythrocytes were different, indicating that the correlation of surface activity-cytotoxicity could provide more information for development of PTS. And the result of hepatotoxicity mechanism study of saponins suggested that endogenous and exogenous apoptotic pathways could be the potential targets of PTS, which could not only provide basis for clinical monitoring and treatment of the toxicity in saponins, but also provide more reference for the clinical application of PTS and phytomedicine containing PTS.

Cytotoxicity of Quillaja saponaria Saponins towards Lung Cells Is Higher for Cholesterol-Rich Cells

The purpose of the study was to compare cytotoxicity of two Quillaja saponaria bark saponin (QBS) mixtures against two lung cell lines: normal MRC-5 fibroblast cell line and tumor A-549 epithelial cells of lungs’ alveoli. The study, performed both at a macro-scale and in a dedicated microfluidic device, showed that QBS was more toxic to the cell line more abundant in cholesterol (MRC-5). The QBS mixture with higher saponin fraction was found to be more cytotoxic towards both cell lines. The results may help to better understand the cytotoxicity of saponin-rich herbal medicines towards normal and tumor cells depending on their cholesterol content.

Bolaamphiphile-based supramolecular gels with drugs eliciting membrane effects

Supramolecular chemistry has garnered important interest in recent years toward improving therapeutic efficacy via drug delivery approaches. Although self-assemblies have been deeply investigated, the design of novel drugs leveraging supramolecular chemistry is less known. In this contribution, we show that a Low Molecular Weight Gel (LMWG) can elicit cancer cell apoptosis. This biological effect results from the unique supramolecular properties of a bolaamphiphile-based gelator, which allow for strong interaction with the lipid membrane. This novel supramolecular-drug paradigm opens up new possibilities for therapeutic applications targeting membrane lipids.

Toxicity of primulic acid 1 against a daphnid species Simocephalus expinosus s.l

Primulic acid 1 is the main saponin present in Primula elatior. The present study describes the isolation of this amphiphilic compound from primula root. It was performed by ultrasonic maceration, reverse-phase column chromatography and crystallization. Investigations of its physicochemical property are represented by the determination of critical micelle concentration (cmc). The cmc value of the amphiphile was 9.4 × 10−5 mol·dm−3. The evaluation of environmental toxicity was performed on a daphnid species Simpocephalus expinosus s.l., which was very sensitive to primulic acids 1. The results from acute immobilisation test show that the tested compound has half maximal effective concentration after 24 hours (EC50-24 h) equal to 6.9 mg·l−1. Saponin can be classified as a toxic compound for aquatic organisms.

Multifunctional cationic surfactants with a labile amide linker as efficient antifungal agents-mechanisms of action

Our research aimed to expand the knowledge of relationships between the structure of multifunctional cationic dicephalic surfactants with a labile linker-N,N-bis[3,3-(dimethylamine)propyl]alkylamide dihydrochlorides and N,N-bis[3,3-(trimethylammonio)propyl]alkylamide dibromides (alkyl: n-C₉H₁₉, n-C₁₁H₂₃, n-C₁₃H₂₇, n-C₁₅H₃₁)-and their possible mechanism of action on fungal cells using the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae. General studies performed on surfactants suggest that in most cases, their main mechanism of action is based on perforation of the cell membranes and cell disruption. Experiments carried out in this work with cationic dicephalic surfactants seem to modify our understanding of this issue. It was found that the investigated compounds did not cause perforation of the cell membrane and could only interact with it, increasing its permeability. The surfactants tested can probably penetrate inside the cells, causing numerous morphological changes, and contribute to disorders in the lipid metabolism of the cell resulting in the formation of lipid droplet aggregates. This research also showed that the compounds cause severe oxidative stress within the cells studied, including increased production of superoxide anion radicals and mitochondrial oxidative stress. Dicephalic cationic surfactants due to their biodegradability do not accumulate in the environment and in the future may be used as effective antifungal compounds in industry as well as medicine, which will be environmentally friendly. KEY POINTS: • Dicephalic cationic surfactants do not induce disruption of the cell membrane. • Surfactants could infiltrate into the cells and cause accumulation of lipids. • Surfactants could cause acute oxidative stress in yeast cells. • Compounds present multimodal mechanism of action. Graphical abstract.

An unusual type I ribosome-inactivating protein from Agrostemma githago L

Agrostemma githago L. (corn cockle) is an herbaceous plant mainly growing in Europe. The seeds of the corn cockle are toxic and poisonings were widespread in the past by consuming contaminated flour. The toxic principle of Agrostemma seeds was attributed to triterpenoid secondary metabolites. Indeed, this is in part true. However Agrostemma githago L. is also a producer of ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs). RIPs are N-glycosylases that inactivate the ribosomal RNA, a process leading to an irreversible inhibition of protein synthesis and subsequent cell death. A widely known RIP is ricin from Ricinus communis L., which was used as a bioweapon in the past. In this study we isolated agrostin, a 27 kDa RIP from the seeds of Agrostemma githago L., and determined its full sequence. The toxicity of native agrostin was investigated by impedance-based live cell imaging. By RNAseq we identified 7 additional RIPs (agrostins) in the transcriptome of the corn cockle. Agrostin was recombinantly expressed in E. coli and characterized by MALDI-TOF–MS and adenine releasing assay. This study provides for the first time a comprehensive analysis of ribosome-inactivating proteins in the corn cockle and complements the current knowledge about the toxic principles of the plant.

Saponin Micelles Lead to High Mucosal Permeation and In Vivo Efficacy of Solubilized Budesonide

Due to fast nasal mucociliary clearance, only the dissolved drug content can effectively permeate the mucosa and be pharmaceutically active after intranasal application of suspensions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to increase the budesonide concentration in solution of a nasal spray formulation. Budesonide, a highly water-insoluble corticosteroid, was successfully solubilized using a micellar formulation comprising escin, propylene glycol and dexpanthenol in an aqueous buffered environment (“Budesolv”). A formulation based on this micellar system was well-tolerated in the nasal cavity as shown in a good laboratory practice (GLP) local tolerance study in rabbits. Ex vivo permeation studies into porcine nasal mucosa revealed a faster and more efficient absorption. Budesolv with 300 µg/mL solubilized budesonide resulted in a budesonide concentration of 42 µg/g tissue after only 15 min incubation. In comparison, incubation with the marketed product Rhinocort^® aqua 64 (1.28 mg/mL budesonide as suspension) led to 15 µg/g tissue. The in vivo tumor-necrosis-factor (TNF)-α secretion in an acute lung inflammation mouse model was significantly reduced (p < 0.001) following a prophylactic treatment with Budesolv compared to Rhinocort^® aqua 64. Successful treatment 15 min after the challenge was only possible with Budesolv (40% reduction of TNF-α, p = 0.0012) suggesting a faster onset of action. The data reveal that solubilization based on saponin micelles presents an opportunity for the development of products containing hardly soluble substances that result in a faster onset and a better topical treatment effect.

A Comprehensive Review of the Phytochemical, Pharmacological, and Toxicological Properties of Tribulus terrestris L

The general spread of Tribulus terrestris L. (South Africa, Australia, Europe, and India), the high content of active ingredients (in particular sterol saponins, as well as flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, phenol carboxylic acids, and alkaloids), and its frequent uses in folk medicine, and as food supplements highlight the importance of evaluating its phytopharmacological properties. There are miscellaneous hypotheses that the species could have a high potential for the prevention and improvement of various human conditions such as infertility, low sexual desire, diabetes, and inflammatory diseases. Worldwide, numerous herbal supplements are commercialized with indications mostly to improve libido, sexual performance in both sexes, and athletic performance. Phytochemical studies have shown great disparities in the content of active substances (in particular the concentration of furostanol and spirostanol saponoside, considered to be the predominant active ingredients related to the therapeutic action). Thus, studies of experimental pharmacology (in vitro studies and animal models in vivo) and clinical pharmacology (efficacy and safety clinical trials) have sometimes led to divergent results; moreover, the presumed pharmacodynamic mechanisms have yet to be confirmed by molecular biology studies. Given the differences observed in the composition, the plant organ used to obtain the extract, the need for selective extraction methods which are targeted at the class of phytocompounds, and the standardization of T. terrestris extracts is an absolute necessity. This review aims to highlight the phytochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological properties of T. terrestris, with a focus on the contradictory results obtained by the studies conducted worldwide.

Interactions of OSW-1 with Lipid Bilayers in Comparison with Digitonin and Soyasaponin

OSW-1, a unique steroidal saponin isolated from the bulbs of Ornithogalum saundersiae, has potent cell-growth inhibition activity. In this study, we conducted fluorescence measurements and microscopic observations using palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylcholine (POPC)-cholesterol (Chol) bilayers to evaluate the membrane-binding affinity of OSW-1 in comparison with another steroidal saponin, digitonin, and the triterpenoid saponin, soyasaponin Bb(I). The membrane activities of these saponins were evaluated using calcein leakage assays and fitted to the binding isotherm by changing the ratios of saponin-lipids. Digitonin showed the highest binding affinity for the POPC-Chol membrane (K_app = 0.38 μM^-1) and the strongest membrane disruptivity in the bound saponin-lipid ratio at the point of 50% calcein leakage (r₅₀ = 0.47) occurrence. OSW-1 showed slightly lower activity (K_app = 0.31 μM^-1; r₅₀ = 0.78), and the soyasaponin was the lowest in the membrane affinity and the calcein leakage activity (K_app = 0.017 μM^-1; r₅₀ = 1.66). The effect of OSW-1 was further assessed using confocal microscopy in an experiment utilizing DiI and rhodamine 6G as the fluorescence probes. The addition of 30 μM OSW-1 induced inward membrane curvature in some giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). At the higher OSW-1 concentration (58 μM, r₅₀ = 0.78) where the 50% calcein leakage was observed, the morphology of some GUVs became elongated. With digitonin at the corresponding concentration (35 μM, r₅₀ = 0.47), membrane disruption and formation of large aggregates in aqueous solution were observed, probably due to a detergent-type mechanism. These saponins, including OSW-1, required Chol to exhibit their potent membrane activity although their mechanisms are thought to be different. At the effective concentration, OSW-1 preferably binds to the bilayers without prominent disruption of vesicles and exerts its activity through the formation of saponin-Chol complexes, probably resulting in membrane permeabilization.

Smart microgels as drug delivery vehicles for the natural drug aescin: uptake, release and interactions

In the present study, we show how acrylamide-based microgels can be employed for the uptake and release of the drug β-aescin, a widely used natural product with a variety of pharmacological effects. We show how aescin is incorporated into the microgel particles. It has an important influence on the structure of the microgels, by reducing their natural network-density gradient in the swollen state. Moreover, temperature-dependent measurements reveal how the incorporation of aescin stabilizes the microgel particles, while the volume phase transition temperature (VPTT) is almost constant, which is very important for the intended drug release. Finally, it is shown that upon increase of the temperature above the VPTT the particles are able to release aescin from their network, encouraging the use of this particular drug delivery system for hypothermia treatments.

Reducing the damage of quinoa saponins on human gastric mucosal cells by a heating process

Different food processing methods will influence the structure and activity of compounds. In this work, molecular structure and different content crude saponins that were extracted from quinoa, treated with water soaking, water boiling, and water steaming were analyzed by HPLC. Flow cytometry was employed to investigate the effects of the main saponins on the GES-1 cell line. HPLC/MS analysis revealed that water soaking induced an extensive conversion of polar saponin Qc (424.41 ± 21.11 mg/g) to the less polar compound Qf (247.04 ± 15.71 mg/g). After treatment with 100 μg of Qf instead of Qc for 24 hr, the percentage of dead cells increased from 20.1 ± 2.2% to 86.2 ± 4.8%. One major reason of this result is that less polar saponins could damage membrane integrity more easier than polar saponins. The results indicate that saponin toxicity is enhanced after degradation, so it is necessary to avoid degradation before use.

The Biosurfactant β-Aescin: A Review on the Physico-Chemical Properties and Its Interaction with Lipid Model Membranes and Langmuir Monolayers

This review discusses recent progress in physicochemical understanding of the action of the saponin β -aescin (also called β -escin), the biologically active component in the seeds of the horse chestnut tree Aesculus hippocastanum. β -Aescin is used in pharmacological and cosmetic applications showing strong surface activity. In this review, we outline the most important findings describing the behavior of β -aescin in solution (e.g., critical micelle concentration ( c m c ) and micelle shape) and special physicochemical properties of adsorbed β -aescin monolayers at the air-water and oil-water interface. Such monolayers were found to posses very special viscoelastic properties. The presentation of the experimental findings is complemented by discussing recent molecular dynamics simulations. These simulations do not only quantify the predominant interactions in adsorbed monolayers but also highlight the different behavior of neutral and ionized β -aescin molecules. The review concludes on the interaction of β -aescin with phospholipid model membranes in the form of bilayers and Langmuir monolayers. The interaction of β -aescin with lipid bilayers was found to strongly depend on its c m c . At concentrations below the c m c , membrane parameters are modified whereas above the c m c , complete solubilization of the bilayers occurs, depending on lipid phase state and concentration. In the presence of gel-phase phospholipids, discoidal bicelles form; these are tunable in size by composition. The phase behavior of β -aescin with lipid membranes can also be modified by addition of other molecules such as cholesterol or drug molecules. The lipid phase state also determines the penetration rate of β -aescin molecules into lipid monolayers. The strongest interaction was always found in the presence of gel-phase phospholipid molecules.

Ex-Vivo and In-Vivo Assessment of Cyclamen europaeum Extract After Nasal Administration

Rhinosinusitis is a prevalent disorder with a severe impact on the health-related quality of life. Saponins of Cyclamen europaeum exert a clinically proven curative effect on rhinosinusitis symptoms when instilled into the nasal cavity, however, more extensive preclinical assessment is required to better characterize the efficacy of this botanical extract. This work evaluates the potential use of a natural freeze-dried extract of C. europaeum given as topical nasal administration. Permeation experiment on porcine nasal mucosa was performed with Franz diffusion cells. Experiments in rabbits were performed to test for any toxicological, hematological, biochemical or histological evidence of systemic action. No theoretical levels of saponins were found in the receptor chamber of Franz diffusion cells. Hematological data did not show significant differences between control and experimental animals (p > 0.05). Histological studies also showed that enhanced secretory activity in response to intranasal administration was not accompanied by any visible signs of injury. An examination of the brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, and gastrointestinal organs did not reveal any abnormality. The absence of mucosal permeation of saponins and negligible probability of C. europaeum saponins absorption in the course of a therapeutic application was demonstrated.

Effect of saponins from quinoa on a skin-mimetic lipid monolayer containing cholesterol

The study discusses the effect of a quinoa seed coat extract on a cholesterol-based Langmuir monolayer mimicking the intercellular lipid mixture in the skin's outermost layer - stratum corneum. Besides cholesterol (CHOL), the monolayer contains also stearic acid (SA) and ceramide VI (CER), in a molar ratio of 10:14:14. Three quinoa extracts were tested for their surface activity: a) from the whole seed, b) from the dehulled seed, and c) from the seed coat. The latter shows significantly higher ability to reduce surface tension (increase surface pressure) than the others. Its adsorbed layers display also reasonable surface dilational elasticity (storage) modulus, E'. These observations are in line with the literature reports on the high concentrations of triterpenoid glycosidic biosurfactants - saponins, in quinoa seed, especially in its coat. The saponin-rich extract of quinoa seed coat was thus introduced underneath the pre-formed lipid monolayer compressed to surface pressure, Π = 30 mN/m in a Langmuir trough, in order to register the surface pressure response. The increase of both the surface pressure and surface dilational elasticity modulus suggests that saponins, and possibly other surface-active components of the extract, incorporate into the model lipid monolayer, without solubilizing it. This opens new perspectives for the saponin-rich quinoa seed extract as skin penetration-enhancing active components for cosmetics or pharmaceutical purposes.

Preclinical evaluation of safety and potential of black hellebore extracts for cancer treatment

BACKGROUND

The therapeutic use of Helleborus niger L. is manifold due to its specific phytochemical composition. Two compound groups, the ranunculin derivates including protoanemonin and the steroidal saponins, are also associated with toxicity (genotoxicity, disintegration of membrane structures). Therefore, in vitro investigations were performed on safety aspects of a Helleborus niger aqueous fermented extract (HNE). In addition its therapeutic potential against various cancer cell lines was assessed to gain insight into the respective mechanisms of action.

METHODS

To evaluate the safe use of HNE, Ames and hemolytic tests were carried out. Two angiogenesis assays in 2D and 3D design were conducted to assess the anti-angiogenetic potential, for which human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were chosen. A panel of tumor cell lines was used in 2D and 3D proliferation assays as well in the migration- and invasion-assay. All investigations were performed with HNE compared to reference substances. The 2D proliferation assay was additionally performed with isolated compounds of HNE (characteristic steroidal saponins).

RESULTS

HNE did not exhibit any genotoxic potential. Concentrations up to 10 μl/ml were classified as non-hemolytic. HNE exerted anti-angiogenetic effects in HUVEC and anti-proliferative effects in five cancer cell lines, whereas hellebosaponin A and D as well macranthosid I did not show comparable effects neither singly nor in combination. Due to the inherent instability of protoanemonin in isolated form, parallel investigations with protoanemonin could not be performed. HNE (600-1000 μg/ml) inhibited the migration of certain cancer cells by > 80% such as Caki-2, DLD-1 and SK-N-SH.

CONCLUSION

HNE exhibit neither genotoxic nor hemolytic potential. The present investigations verify the anti-angiogenetic effects on HUVEC, the anti-proliferative effects and migration-inhibiting properties on tumor cells. The lower effect of the relevant steroidal saponins compared to the whole extract underlines the fact that the latter is more effective than a blend of isolated pharmacologically active components.

Self-Assembly of the Bio-Surfactant Aescin in Solution: A Small-Angle X-ray Scattering and Fluorescence Study

This work investigates the temperature-dependent micelle formation as well as the micellar structure of the saponin aescin. The critical micelle concentration ( c m c ) of aescin is determined from the concentration-dependent autofluorescence (AF) of aescin. Values between c m c aescin , AF (10 ∘ C) = 0.38 ± 0.09 mM and c m c aescin , AF (50 ∘ C) = 0.32 ± 0.13 mM were obtained. The significance of this method is verified by tensiometry measurements. The value determined from this method is within the experimental error identical with values obtained from autofluorescence ( c m c aescin , T ( WP ) (23 ∘ C) = 0.33 ± 0.02 mM). The structure of the aescin micelles was investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) at 10 and 40 ∘ C. At low temperature, the aescin micelles are rod-like, whereas at high temperature the structure is ellipsoidal. The radii of gyration were determined to ≈31 Å (rods) and ≈21 Å (ellipsoid). The rod-like shape of the aescin micelles at low temperature was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). All investigations were performed at a constant pH of 7.4, because the acidic aescin has the ability to lower the pH value in aqueous solution.

Alpha-Hederin Nanopore for Single Nucleotide Discrimination

Various types of biological and synthetic nanopores have been developed and utilized for the high-throughput investigation of individual biomolecules. Biological nanopores made with channel proteins are so far superior to solid-state ones in terms of sensitivity and reproducibility. However, the performance of a biological nanopore is dependent on the protein in the channel structure its dimensions are predetermined and are difficult to modify for broader applications. Here inspired by the cytotoxic mechanisms of a saponin derivative, alpha-hederin, we report a nonproteinaceous nanopore that can be formed spontaneously in a lipid membrane. We propose the pore-forming mechanism of alpha-hederin in a cholesterol-rich lipid membrane and a strategy to control the pore-forming rate by a lipid partitioning method. The small diameter and effective thickness of alpha-hederin nanopores enabled us to discriminate ssDNA homopolymers as well as four types of nucleotides, showing its potential as a DNA sequencing tool.

Performance and biofilm characteristics of biotrickling filters for ethylbenzene removal in the presence of saponins

Saponins were applied to enhance ethylbenzene removal in biotrickling filters (BTFs), and comparison experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of saponins on ethylbenzene removal and biofilm characteristics at various saponin concentrations. Results showed that the optimum concentration of saponins was 40 mg/L and a maximum removal efficiency (RE) of ethylbenzene reached 84.3%. When the inlet ethylbenzene concentration increased, ranging from 750 to 2300 mg/m³, the RE decreased from 92.1 to 60.8% and from 69.4 to 44.2% for BTF1 and BTF2 in which saponin was and was not added, respectively. The corresponding RE declined from 91.1 to 40.8% and from 71.5 to 35.8% with a decreased empty bed residence time ranging from 45 to 7.5 s. Additionally, significant differences existed between both BTFs not only in the contents of polysaccharide and proteins but also in the surface charge of biofilms, and the ratio of protein to polysaccharide increased with the increase of saponin concentration, which indicated the presumable effect of saponins on liquid-biofilm transfer rates of ethylbenzene. Mechanisms for the enhanced removal of hydrophobic volatile organic compounds at the presence of surfactants were also discussed.

In vitro ovicidal and larvicidal activities of some saponins and flavonoids against parasitic nematodes of goats

This study assessed the anthelmintic activity of plant-derived compounds against gastrointestinal nematodes of goats using the egg hatch and larval motility assays. The compounds tested were saponins (digitonin and aescin) and their respective sapogenins (aglycones), hecogenin acetate and flavonoids (catechin, hesperidin, isocordoin and a mixture of isocordoin and cordoin). Additionally, cytotoxicity of active substances was analysed on Vero cell through 3-4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl,2,5diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and propidium iodide (PI) tests. Significant reduction on the egg hatching (P 90%). Nevertheless, higher cytotoxicity was observed in the MTT assay, with IC50 of 0.20 mg mL-1 (aescin) and 0.0074 mg mL-1 (digitonin). Aescin and digitonin have a pronounced in vitro anthelmintic effect and the glycone portion of these saponins plays an important role in this activity.

DMPC vesicle structure and dynamics in the presence of low amounts of the saponin aescin

Vesicle shape and bilayer parameters are studied by small-angle X-ray (SAXS) and small-angle neutron (SANS) scattering in the presence of the saponin aescin. Bilayer dynamics is studied by neutron spin-echo (NSE) spectroscopy.

Physical properties of botanical surfactants

Some vegetal species have saponins in their composition with great potential to be used as natural surfactants in organic crops. This work aims to evaluate some surfactants physical properties of Quillaja brasiliensis and Agave angustifolia, based on different methods of preparation and concentration. The vegetal samples were prepared by drying and grinding, frozen and after chopped or used fresh and chopped. The neutral bar soap was used as a positive control. The drying and grinding of samples were the preparation method that resulted in higher foam column height in both species but Q. brasiliensis was superior to A. angustifolia in all comparisons and foam index was 2756 and 1017 respectively. Critical micelle concentration of Q. brasiliensis was 0.39% with the superficial tension of 54.40mNm^-1 while neutral bar soap was 0.15% with 34.96mNm^-1. Aspects such as genetic characteristics of the species, environmental conditions, and analytical methods make it difficult to compare the results with other studies, but Q. brasiliensis powder has potential to be explored as a natural surfactant in organic farming. Not only the surfactants physical properties of botanical saponins should be taken into account but also its effect on insects and diseases control when decided using them.

Aescin Incorporation and Nanodomain Formation in DMPC Model Membranes

The saponin aescin from the horse chestnut tree is a natural surfactant well-known to self-assemble as oriented-aggregates at fluid interfaces. Using model membranes in the form of lipid vesicles and Langmuir monolayers, we study the mixing properties of aescin with the phase-segregating phospholipid 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-phosphocholine (DMPC). The binary membranes are experimentally studied on different length scales ranging from the lipid headgroup area to the macroscopic scale using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) with binary bilayer vesicles and Langmuir tensiometry (LT) with lipid monolayers spread on the surface of aescin solutions. The binary interaction was found to strongly depend on aescin concentration in two well differentiated concentration regimes. Below 7 mol %, the results reveal phase segregation of nanometer-sized aescin-rich domains in an aescin-poor continuous bilayer. Above this concentration, aescin-aescin interactions dominate, which inhibit vesicle formation but lead to the formation of new membrane aggregates of smaller sizes. From LT studies in monolayers, the interaction of aescin with DMPC was shown to be stronger in the condensed phase than in the liquid expanded phase. Furthermore, a destructuring role was revealed for aescin on phospholipid membranes, similar to the fluidizing effect of cholesterol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on lipid bilayers.

Sterol-recognition ability and membrane-disrupting activity of Ornithogalum saponin OSW-1 and usual 3-O-glycosyl saponins

OSW-1 is a structurally unique steroidal saponin isolated from the bulbs of Ornithogalum saundersiae, and has exhibited highly potent and selective cytotoxicity in tumor cell lines. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism for the membrane-permeabilizing activity of OSW-1 in comparison with those of other saponins by using various spectroscopic approaches. The membrane effects and hemolytic activity of OSW-1 were markedly enhanced in the presence of membrane cholesterol. Binding affinity measurements using fluorescent cholestatrienol and solid-state NMR spectroscopy of a 3-d-cholesterol probe suggested that OSW-1 interacts with membrane cholesterol without forming large aggregates while 3-O-glycosyl saponin, digitonin, forms cholesterol-containing aggregates. The results suggest that OSW-1/cholesterol interaction is likely to cause membrane permeabilization and pore formation without destroying the whole membrane integrity, which could partly be responsible for its highly potent cell toxicity.

Glycosylated Triterpenoids as Endosomal Escape Enhancers in Targeted Tumor Therapies

Protein-based targeted toxins play an increasingly important role in targeted tumor therapies. In spite of their high intrinsic toxicity, their efficacy in animal models is low. A major reason for this is the limited entry of the toxin into the cytosol of the target cell, which is required to mediate the fatal effect. Target receptor bound and internalized toxins are mostly either recycled back to the cell surface or lysosomally degraded. This might explain why no antibody-targeted protein toxin has been approved for tumor therapeutic applications by the authorities to date although more than 500 targeted toxins have been developed within the last decades. To overcome the problem of insufficient endosomal escape, a number of strategies that make use of diverse chemicals, cell-penetrating or fusogenic peptides, and light-induced techniques were designed to weaken the membrane integrity of endosomes. This review focuses on glycosylated triterpenoids as endosomal escape enhancers and throws light on their structure, the mechanism of action, and on their efficacy in cell culture and animal models. Obstacles, challenges, opportunities, and future prospects are discussed.

On the Interaction between Digitonin and Cholesterol in Langmuir Monolayers

In this article, we describe the effect of a highly hemolytic saponin, digitonin, on model lipids cholesterol and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) using a combination of tensiometric (surface pressure and dilatational surface elasticity), spectroscopic (infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy, IRRAS), microscopic (fluorescence microscopy), and scattering techniques (neutron reflectivity, NR, and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, GIXD). The monolayers of individual lipids and their 10:9 (mol/mol) mixture were exposed to an aqueous solution of digitonin (10(-4) M) by subphase exchange using a setup developed recently in our laboratory. The results confirm that digitonin can adsorb onto both bare and lipid-covered water-air interfaces. In the case of DPPC, a relatively weak interaction can be observed, but the presence of cholesterol drastically enhances the effect of digitonin. The latter is shown to dissociate the weak cholesterol-DPPC complexes and to bind cholesterol in an additional layer attached to the original lipid monolayer.

Effects of anionic surfactant on n-hexane removal in biofilters

The biodegradability of three anion surfactants by biofilm microorganisms and the toxicity of the most readily biodegradable surfactant to biofilm microorganisms were examined using batch experiments, and the optimal concentration of SDS for enhanced removal of hexane was investigated using two biotrickling filters (BTFs) for comparison. Results showed that SDS could be biodegraded by microorganisms, and its toxicity to microorganisms within the experimental range was negligible. The best concentration of SDS in biofiltration of n-hexane was 0.1 CMC and the elimination capacity (EC) of 50.4 g m(-3) h(-1) was achieved at a fixed loading rate (LR) of 72 g m(-3) h(-1). When an inlet concentration of n-hexane increased from 600 to 850 mg m(-3), the removal efficiency (RE) decreased from 67% to 41% by BTF2 (with SDS) and from 52% to 42% by BTF1 (without SDS). SDS could enhance hexane removal from 43% (BTF1) to 60% (BTF2) at gas empty-bed residence time (EBRT) of 7.5 s and an inlet concentration of 200 mg m(-3).

Hemolysis by surfactants--A review

An overview of the use of surfactants for erythrocyte lysis and their cell membrane action mechanisms is given. Erythrocyte membrane characteristics and its association with the cell cytoskeleton are presented in order to complete understanding of the erythrocyte membrane distortion. Cell homeostasis disturbances caused by surfactants might induce changes starting from shape modification to cell lysis. Two main mechanisms are hypothesized in literature which are osmotic lysis and lysis by solubilization even if the boundary between them is not clearly defined. Another specific mechanism based on the formation of membrane pores is suggested in the particular case of saponins. The lytic potency of a surfactant is related to its affinity for the membrane and the modification of the lipid membrane curvature. This is to be related to the surfactant shape defined by its hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties but also by experimental conditions. As a consequence, prediction of the hemolytic potency of a given surfactant is challenging. Several studies are focused on the relation between surfactant erythrolytic potency and their physico-chemical parameters such as the critical micellar concentration (CMC), the hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB), the surfactant membrane/water partition coefficient (K) or the packing parameter (P). The CMC is one of the most important factors considered even if a lytic activity cut-off effect points out that the only consideration of CMC not enough predictive. The relation K.CMC must be considered in addition to the CMC to predict the surfactant lytic capacity within the same family of non ionic surfactant. Those surfactant structure/lytic activity studies demonstrate the requirement to take into account a combination of physico-chemical parameters to understand and foresee surfactant lytic potency.