Biologically Active Saponins of Genus Cestrum L.: A Comprehensive Review

Genus Cestrum L. belonging to family Solanaceae comprises from 250 to 300 species of flowering plants that are native to warm temperate to tropical regions of America. Shrubs of Cestrum L. species are known as Jessamines due to their highly fragrant flowers. They are planted not only for their ornamental uses but also for their valuable and diverse medicinal effects. In many African, Asian and American countries, folk medicine practitioners use different Cestrum L. species for their important ethno- pharmacological effects and diverse biological properties. In the last decades, fifty-two saponins; mainly of steroidal nucleus; have been isolated and identified form certain Cestrum L. species and they were responsible for numerous important biological activities as cytotoxic activity, pesticidal activity spermicidal activity, anti-microbial activity and anti-inflammatory effect. In this updated review till 2021, we highlighted the pharmacological importance of those steroidal saponins, their biosynthetic pathway and the relation between the chemical structure and biological activity.