Saponins are a group of plant and marine derived glycosides with numerous biological functions. Two important characteristics of certain plant saponins are their ability to enhance cytotoxicity of type I ribosome inactivating proteins and stimulation of the immune system. The main objective of the present study was to investigate in real-time the permeabilizing effects of saponins on cell membrane. A set of oleanane saponins (glycyrrhizinic acid, Gypsophila, Saponaria and Quillaja saponins) and a steroid saponin (digitonin) were tested. The effects of these saponins on lysosomal membranes and hemolysis, along with their charge were also studied. Real-time monitoring of cell membrane permeabilization facilitated a highly sensitive analysis of the cellular kinetics. Saponins showed variable permeabilizing effects on cellular and lysosomal membranes at concentrations from 6 μM and hemolysis from 3 μM. Further, the results suggest that charge of the saponin may be relevant for permeabilizing effects of oleanane saponins.
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