Steroidal Saponins: Naturally Occurring Compounds as Inhibitors of the Hallmarks of Cancer

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Cancer is one of the most life-threatening diseases that affects a rapidly growing number of individuals worldwide. Currently, chemotherapy is the most common method of treating cancer. The unfavorable results involved with existing cancer treatments have motivated the search for novel approaches to treat cancer. Many of these treatments exert their anti-cancer effects by targeting the hallmarks of cancer. The hallmarks of cancer are a set of traits shared among almost all cancers. The increasing knowledge of these characteristics has provided a framework for the development of promising anti-cancer drugs. Historically, nature has been a valuable source for the discovery of effective anti-cancer agents. Steroidal saponins are a group of naturally occurring compounds that have been recently explored for their anti-cancer properties. This review summarizes key findings from recently published articles on the use of steroidal saponins as inhibitors of the hallmarks of cancer. ABSTRACT: 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.