Term Name: | saponin catabolic process |
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Synonyms: | saponin breakdown, saponin catabolism, saponin degradation |
Definition: | The chemical reactions and pathways resulting in the breakdown of saponins, glycosides of plants in which the aglycan (sapogenin) group is a terpene or steroid and the sugar group is a glucose, a galactose, a pentose, a methylpentose or an oligosaccharide. Saponins are powerful surfactant agents and membrane active; they are, hence, toxic to animals on injection. |
Ontology: | GO: Biological Process [GO:0016136] QuickGO AmiGO |