Desert date (Balanites aegyptiaca) Saponins

Saponins are high molecular weight glycosides,
consisting of a sugar moiety linked to a triterpene
or steroid aglycone. The presence of a large numbers
of functional groups and sugar moieties made
saponins a wide array of specific biological,
chemical, and physical properties. In recent years
the interest in saponins has increased significantly
because of their diverse properties as natural
detergents, foaming agents, their cardiac,
immunostimulating, and anti-cancer activity, as well
as other health promoting functions. Untill now,
diosgenin and related steroidal saponins have been
obtained mainly from Dioscorea, however it is
crucial to discover new and alternative sources
because of decreasing plant resources and increasing
demand. This book presents the details of the
isolation, characterization, and biological and
physical properties of saponins from a widely grown
and most neglected plant of the drier parts of the
world desert date (Balanites aegyptiaca) along with
the production potentialities. Students and
researchers from chemistry and biotechnology; and
industries and growers all can take benefit from
this book.

Autorentext

Bishnu P. Chapagain, PhD: Studied B.Sc. at Tribhuvan University, Nepal and M.Sc. and PhD at Ben-Gurion University (BGU), Israel. Worked as Horticulturist in DOA, Nepal for 10 years. Currently Research Associate at BGU. Published over 30 research articles and authored four book chapters in the field of phytochemistry and plant sciences.

Klappentext

Saponins are high molecular weight glycosides, consisting of a sugar moiety linked to a triterpene or steroid aglycone. The presence of a large numbers of functional groups and sugar moieties made saponins a wide array of specific biological, chemical, and physical properties. In recent years the interest in saponins has increased significantly because of their diverse properties as natural detergents, foaming agents, their cardiac, immunostimulating, and anti-cancer activity, as well as other health promoting functions. Untill now, diosgenin and related steroidal saponins have been obtained mainly from Dioscorea, however it is crucial to discover new and alternative sources because of decreasing plant resources and increasing demand. This book presents the details of the isolation, characterization, and biological and physical properties of saponins from a widely grown and most neglected plant of the drier parts of the world-desert date (Balanites aegyptiaca)-along with the production potentialities. Students and researchers from chemistry and biotechnology; and industries and growers all can take benefit from this book.