Abstract
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.
Highlights
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 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
Quillaja is a genus of the Quillajaceae family of the Fabales order (Magnoliopsida) and comprises only two species: Quillaja saponaria Molina (QS) and Quillaja brasiliensis
Summary
Quillaja is a genus of the Quillajaceae family of the Fabales order (Magnoliopsida) and comprises only two species: Quillaja saponaria Molina (QS) and Quillaja brasiliensis The traditional interest on this genus is because of saponins in the bark, wood, and leaves of trees (Figure 1) Both species, notably QS, represent important commercial sources of raw saponins used as a foaming, wetting, and emulsifying agent, and, in a more purified form, in preparing photographic emulsions, cosmetics, vaccine adjuvants and other medical products (Rodríguez-Díaz et al, 2011). Natural regeneration produces new individuals with a bush-like architecture (multiple stems from the stump), which hinders extraction of bark from second-rotation trees To counteract this effect, sustainable management of QS forests includes the application of thinning on new stems and the use of alternative raw material sources, such as branches from pruning and leaves (containing up to 2.58 % w/w of saponins) (Schlotterbeck et al, 2015). Use of QS saponins as an agent to enhance the disinfection process in the beverage industry, inhibiting the growth of Asaia spp in vitro
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