hederagenin

**Hederagenin** is a pentacyclic triterpenoid aglycone primarily found in plants such as Hedera helix (common ivy) and various other medicinal herbs. It naturally occurs as the sapogenin core of saponins, particularly hederacoside C and alpha-hederin. Hederagenin and its derivatives display diverse pharmacological activities: anti-tumor (cytotoxicity, apoptosis, autophagy regulation), anti-inflammatory (inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators), anti-depressant, anti-neurodegenerative, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-diabetic, anti-leishmanial, and anti-viral effects. Mechanistically, hederagenin modulates key intracellular pathways and targets such as STAT3, Aurora B kinase, KIF7, PI3K/AKT, NF-κB, Nrf2/ARE, Drp1, P-gp, MAPK, JAK2/STAT3, Keap1-Nrf2/HO-1, β-catenin, TFEB, and PPARα, among others. Its antitumor and anti-inflammatory activity, in particular, have attracted research interest into its potential as a lead compound for drug development. Hederagenin is absorbed rapidly but has modest bioavailability, and its potential for hemolysis and toxicity in certain animals has been noted. Currently, hederagenin is not approved as a pharmaceutical drug and remains in the preclinical research stage for multiple indications[1][3][5][6][7][8][9][11][12][13][14].

Other names

hederidinhederagenolhederogeninmelanthigeninvaccaric acidkalosapogeninastrantiagenin Ecaulosapogeninhederic acid