Saponins from Sapindus mukorossi inhibit gray mold in strawberries

Sapindus mukorossi, commonly known as Indian soapberry, Chinese soapberry, and soap nut, is a species of the Sapindaceae family. It is a deciduous tree that grows in the lower and middle regions of the Himalayas, India, southern China, and Taiwan.

The saponin

The nut contains saponins, surfactant compounds with detergent properties, which have also been used as insecticides and antimicrobial agents.

Saponins are products of plant secondary metabolism. They constitute a heterogeneous group of non-nitrogenous compounds, whose chemical structure contains steroidal and triterpenoid-type glucosides, imparting amphipathic character to the molecules.

Inhibition of Botrytis cinerea

In a recent study, scientists have found that Sapindus mukorossi saponins inhibit the mycelial growth of gray mold in strawberries caused by Botrytis cinerea.

Microscopic analyses demonstrate that this effect is attributed to the impairment of plasma membrane integrity, induction of autophagic vacuoles, and disruption of the fungal cell's homeostasis.

Moreover, they destroy mitochondria and induce oxidative bursts in the cytoplasm, contributing to the abolition of the pathogen's cellular vitality.

The stability of the membrane system is crucial for the development of B. cinerea and successful infection. The secretion of virulence-related substances depends on the endomembrane system, comprising the Golgi apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum, and numerous secretory vesicles or exosomes. The production of reactive oxygen species as toxicity factors also relies on mitochondria and other organelles. The alteration of these structures prevents the development and sporulation of pathogenic fungi.

These findings suggest that S. mukorossi saponins could be used as safe fungicidal alternatives to control postharvest gray mold in fruit.

Sources

Huang, X.; Liu, W.; Dong, F.; Xu,Y.; Tian,S.; Chen,T. (2024). Sapindus mukorossi saponins inhibit gray mold on strawberry fruit by impairing membrane integrity and organellar homeostasis of Botrytis cinérea. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 207:112594.

Imagen

https://www.megacurioso.com.br/ciencia/123667-saboeiro-a-arvore-que-produz-sabao-naturalmente.htm Access on 27/12/2023.