saponin catabolic process

Term ID

GO:0016136

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.

References

Ontology

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