Chemical and pharmacological interest of ziyuglycosides I-II: two triterpenoid saponins from Sanguisorba officinalis

Ziyuglycosides I-II are two glycosylated triterpenoids isolated from the edible medicinal plant Sanguisorba officinalis L. (great burnet). Ziyu-1 is a bidesmosidic saponin whereas its metabolite Ziyu-2 is a monodesmoside. They were initially isolated from the plant roots (Sanguisorbae radix) but they can be found in diverse medicinal plants and polyherbal preparations. This review retraces the origin of the products, discusses synthetic processes to obtain derivatives from the sapogenin precursor pomolic acid, and presents an overview of the pharmacological properties of Ziyu-1/2. The natural products display antitumor properties, with six major anticancer targets identified, including receptor ESRRG, chromobox protein CBX4 and endoplasmic reticulum-associated protein STING, implicated in tumor cell proliferation and immune-regulation. In parallel, anti-inflammatory properties have been evidenced, associated with the targeting of a few other protein targets such as ADP ribosyl cyclase CD38. Altogether, a dozen protein targets have been proposed, mainly based on in silico studies. The interest of the products for skin protection, as cosmeceutical ingredients, and their antibacterial and antiviral effects are also evoked. Formulation products (Ziyu liposomes and nanoparticules) and (hemi)synthetic analogues are discussed. The aim of this study is to promote further researches with these triterpenoids and naturally-occurring or hemisynthetic analogues.