关键词: 生物活性, 皂角苷, 糖链, 分子结构, 构效关系

Recent results of studies on the structures, biological activities and the structure-activity relationships of saponins were reviewed in this paper. It was concluded, based on those discussions, that the biological activities of many saponins are closely related to the sugar chains in their structures. Therefore, the biological roles and the acting mechanisms of structures of saponins was herein described and the biological significance of sugar chains in saponins was discussed.

Key words: BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY, SAPONINS, MOLECULAR STRUCTURE, STRUCTURE ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIP