%K Saponin; asparagus; extraction;health benefits; anticancer; applications
%L uneatlantico8682
%J Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition
%P 1-19
%R doi:10.1080/10408398.2023.2249097
%A Fan Zhang
%A Shengxiong Chen
%A Jianguo Zhang
%A Kiran Thakur
%A Maurizio Battino
%A Hui Cao
%A Mohamed A. Farag
%A Jianbo Xiao
%A Zhaojun Wei
%D 2023
%T Asparagus saponins: effective natural beneficial ingredient in functional foods, from preparation to applications
%X Asparagus species is recognized as a perennial herb with several valuable functional ingredients, and has been widely used as medicine and food since ancient times. Among its main chemical constituents, saponins play a vital role in the health benefits and biological activities including anti-cancer, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and hypoglycemic. This review summarizes the preparation methods, structure and classification, biological functions, as well as the food and non-food applications of asparagus saponins, with a special emphasis on its anti-cancer effects in vitro and in vivo. Further, the main challenges and limitations of the current research trends in asparagus saponins are highlighted after a detailed analysis of the recent research information. This review bridges the gap between bioactive components and human health and aids current research on functional and health-promoting foods and medicinal application of Asparagus saponins.