Plant-Derived Selected Bioactive Saponins and Tannins: An Overview of their Multi-Target Mechanisms and Diverse Biological Activities

An extensive variety of ailments have been treated using medicinal herbs for ages. Recent research has revealed that many of these plants possess multiple therapeutic activities, rendering them interesting candidates for the creation of novel medicines. This review examines the current state of knowledge regarding the multi targeted activities of medicinal plants, including their potential for treating multiple diseases like anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-hyperglycaemic and anti-cancer activities, their ability to modulate multiple pathways, enzymes, genes and proteins. Finally, the review highlights the potential of naturally derived substances from plant material, for the development of multitargeted drugs and suggests strategies for further research. The multi-target activities will be thoroughly explored in this review of ginsenosides, platycodon D, dioscin, soyasaponins and aescin were chosen as saponins, whereas methyl gallate, chebulinic acid, tannic acid, theaflavin and punicalagins were chosen as tannins. This overview gives a brief history of the isolated natural compounds, their structures, multi-target activity, and their suggested mechanisms of action.