review · Cancers
Cancer rates and deaths continue to rise worldwide despite modern medical advancements. While conventional drugs targeting the hallmarks of cancer demonstrate substantial therapeutic efficacy, they often cause severe and unfavourable side effects in patients. In the search for alternative therapies, plant-derived secondary metabolites known as steroidal saponins have emerged as promising bioactive candidates. Evidence accumulated between 2014 and 2024 indicates that steroidal saponins possess significant anti-cancer capabilities, effectively acting against the biological hallmarks that drive cancer initiation, growth, and progression. However, major pharmacological hurdles currently limit their practical application. Poor bioavailability and a notable lack of comprehensive preclinical studies restrict the therapeutic utilisation of these natural compounds, meaning further foundational testing is necessary to translate these bioactivities into reliable treatments.
Cancer remains a growing global health burden, and many existing therapies cause severe adverse reactions that harm patient quality of life. Exploring natural alternatives like steroidal saponins provides a pathway to discover novel therapeutic agents. Clarifying how these plant compounds interact with cancer mechanisms may help guide future treatments designed to fight tumours effectively while potentially reducing harmful side effects.
This research informs early-stage pharmaceutical discovery and development, pointing to potential therapeutic leads for biotechnology and oncology drug developers. The technology appears to be at an early research stage and remains far from market deployment. Commercialisation is currently impeded by the poor bioavailability of steroidal saponins and an absence of sufficient preclinical testing, requiring significant formulation development and animal model evaluation before clinical trials can be considered.
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Cancer is a global health burden responsible for an exponentially growing number of incidences and mortalities, regardless of the significant advances in its treatment. The identification of the hallmarks of cancer is a major milestone in understanding the mechanisms that drive cancer initiation, development, and progression. In the past, the hallmarks of cancer have been targeted to effectively treat various types of cancers. These conventional cancer drugs have shown significant therapeutic efficacy but continue to impose unfavorable side effects on patients. Naturally derived compounds are being tested in the search for alternative anti-cancer drugs. Steroidal saponins are a group of naturally occurring compounds that primarily exist as secondary metabolites in plant species. Recent studies have suggested that steroidal saponins possess significant anti-cancer capabilities. This review aims to summarize the recent findings on steroidal saponins as inhibitors of the hallmarks of cancer and covers key studies published between the years 2014 and 2024. It is reported that steroidal saponins effectively inhibit the hallmarks of cancer, but poor bioavailability and insufficient preclinical studies limit their utilization.
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DOI: 10.3390/cancers15153900
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